Following the success of last year’s inaugural Sanctuary residency support for artists and companies, Lighthouse is again opening its Sherling Studio and function rooms as creation spaces this summer.
This year Lighthouse is supporting 125 creatives with 96 days of free-to-use R&D in its various spaces where creatives can develop and explore their ideas, share work-in-progress performances and workshop music and scripts, all with in-house technical support.
“While last year’s first Sanctuary scheme came in response to the ongoing crisis in the Arts, one of the most important considerations for us was that it was not purely reactive and confined to a single year,” says Tim Colegate, Lighthouse Head of Programming.
“This was cemented by the feedback we received from artists who had utilised the programme emphasising what a valuable resource it was. So, it was a very easy decision to do it again.
“Artists create the work that we engage with, and we recognise our role in supporting them to do that. The pandemic provided a wake-up call to the Arts and the continuation of the Sanctuary scheme demonstrates Lighthouse’s ongoing commitment to the development of art and artists across the region and beyond.”
Among the many highlights this summer are:
DorsetBorn /Tabby Hayward – Fort. A two-hander set on a hillfort in Dorset. With a Dorset raised/based creative team, this interaction with place and exploration of an authentic young Dorset voice, not often shown on stage, is what we would want to use this opportunity to explore.
Annie Herridge – Red Hot Pokers. A new verbatim monologue for The Camden Fringe Festival inspired by the true-life story of Annie’s dear friend who grew up gay in the 60s, a time when it was illegal. It’s an LGBT inspired piece but attractive to all audiences as it’s about his fight against homophobia and cancer.
Transatantyk2 – The Lab. The results of two weeks of experimentation with five emerging practitioners.
Norvil and Josephine – The Egyptian Hall (working title) A devised theatre piece with magic, circus, acrobatics and singing. The story takes place in a circus magic sideshow in 1903. Norvil, a cloaked magician in a top hat, appears on a smoky stage with his female assistant, Josephine. However, this magician’s most protected secret isn’t how he does his magic.
Other artists and companies that will be at Lighthouse this summer include: Dorset School of Acting alumnus and former Lighthouse bar worker Will Dowland, DorsetBorn (Modern Shelleys), Elizabeth Gunawan (The Promised Land), Emilie Barton (The Call), Holly Joy (Hole), Grace Lovelass (Graceful!), Moneypenny and Tuffrey (30 Bouquets), Ryan Murphy and Maia Ayling (Shush), SISATA (Wuthering Heights), Stuff and Nonsense (The Little Red Hen), and Tilted Wig (Spitfire Girls). Plus, pending funding: Michele O’Brien (I’m Glad I Asked), Company of Fools (Migrating Melodies), Hannah Kumari (Football Musical), Louise Jordan (Pop Up Pedestal – phase 2), Outland Opera (The Stones Sing), Treehouse Theatre (Jack and the Beanstalk).
(NC)