Black Country Stories Black Country Touring

Before Vimal Korpal became a performer, he ran a shop – and he still likes talking to shopkeepers. In this podcast he visits Wednesbury town centre where he uncovers the interesting stories behind two shops – Simone’s Bridal Wear and Sue’s Traditional Sweets.

Surprisingly, these vastly different shops share more than just their Wednesbury location, and Vimal proves yet again that there are stories we all want to hear in everyone’s lives.



This Black Country Stories podcast episode was funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. What's in Store was part of We Are Wednesbury, a cultural programme produced by Multistory for the High Streets Heritage Action Zone initiative, funded by Sandwell Council and Historic England.

Bohdan Piasecki is a poet and he listens to people. Well, he has conversations with people, listens to what he’s been told, and then writes a poem for them from the things that he’s been told.

In this podcast, he has conversations with three people and writes three new poems about a special grandchild, the release of speed, and how loving people often means knowing when to let them go.

The conversations are intriguing, the poems are wonderful.



This Black Country Stories podcast episode was funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. What's in Store was part of We Are Wednesbury, a cultural programme produced by Multistory for the High Streets Heritage Action Zone initiative, funded by Sandwell Council and Historic England.

BBC Radio presenter Gagan Grewal chats to Vimal Korpal about all things tattoo. First broadcast 5 December 2021. 

Supported by the DCMS through the Culture Recovery Fund. Tattoo Stories is a Black Country Stories podcast commissioned and produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder. 

Tattooists don’t like doing names, for all sorts of reasons like misspellings or loved ones falling out. When I got a tattoo my mum wasn’t too impressed. I then learned my uncle had his name tattooed on his arm. Why would anyone have their own name tattooed on their arm? Little did I know it would take me back over 70 years before the British partitioned India. Writer & presenter Vimal Korpal. Sound design Annie Mahtani. Santoor Kaviraj Singh. Director Steve Johnstone. Supported by the DCMS through the Culture Recovery Fund. Tattoo Stories is a Black Country Stories podcast commissioned and produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder. 

I’m no tattooist but there are thousands of stories as to why people have tattoos: for love, inspiration, remembrance, fashion, culture, cosmetic; and some just because they were drunk! There’s a story behind every tattoo. Join writer-performer Vimal Korpal as he ventures into the world of Black Country tattoos. Tracing his own tattoo takes him back over 70 years and 4000 miles away from home. Writer & presenter Vimal Korpal. Sound design Annie Mahtani. Santoor Kaviraj Singh. Director Steve Johnstone. Supported by the DCMS through the Culture Recovery Fund. Tattoo Stories is a Black Country Stories podcast commissioned and produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder. 

In this bonus episode Producer Bobby Tiwana talks to Music Composer & Sound Designer Duncan Grimley about his work. 

Supported by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council’s Museum & Arts Service. Funding National Lottery Heritage Fund & Sandwell Museum & Arts Service. Voices of the Fairground is a Black Country Stories podcast produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.