08 September 2020
Newsdesk
On Sunday 20th September, from dawn until dark, site-specific Cornish theatre company, Wildworks has announced it will be running seven live showings of an immersive soundscape on the rugged cliffs of Botallack on Cornwall’s wild Tin Coast. This unique and site-specific set of screenings, aptly titled ‘Meet me at the Edge’ has been written by founding artist Mercedes Kemp and directed by Artistic Director, Mydd Pharo.
The first episode of ‘Meet me at the Edge’ is partly a response to the Covid-19 pandemic and is an experimental, physical journey into what ‘The Edge’ means to communities and individuals.
Focussing in on the stories and experiences of Wildworks’ founding artist, Mercedes Kemp, Meet me At The Edge will invite visitors to finally come and stand together at the edge of the world; the edge of solitude and loneliness, the edge of love, the edge of tolerance and endurance and the edge of meaning, all on the physical edge of the land and the sea.
Botallack is a culturally and historically significant site based in sensational, wild and dramatic landscape. Part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site and a popular Poldark filming location, standing there offers the feeling of being on the edge of the world, with accompanying feelings of isolation and solitude.
Despite this, attendees can enjoy the distant company of others as all join safely for this special one-day only event. With the first performance starting at sunrise 6.30am, wearing headphones, showgoers will be placed along the cliff for an individual, but shared, experience. The last performance of the day commences at 6.30pm and this short journey into sound and landscape explores themes of connectivity and isolation and is inspired by Mercedes Kemp’s personal experiences of living on the edge.
Mercedes was born in Andalucía and has lived and worked in West Penwith, on the edge of the land, for 45 years. She said, “What does it mean to be a writer out of place, out of language, out of culture? A stranger in the strange, not speaking one's mother tongue, silenced but observant, looking, listening, until language arrives again; until an attachment to the different shore, the unfamiliar sky grows stronger. At home in the strange, one becomes a stranger at one's home. The abiding image of the 21st century is one of displacement, migration, diaspora. These themes fascinate me.”
Mercedes continued, “I look for the traces of the movements of people, departures and homecomings, fortuitous arrivals, the keeping of memory, the blessing of hospitality. The stories I construct out of these fragments are not true, but they might have been.”
Founded in 2005, Wildworks makes site-specific theatre taking audiences on physical and emotional journeys; working with landscapes and people, telling stories of the world we all live in. The Wildworks method involves ‘bedding down’ in locations, getting to know the people who belong to it, teasing out the secrets, and stories, that go on to drive and shape each show and experience.
The first show will start at 6:30am and repeats every two hours for the entirety of Sunday 20th September. Numbers will be limited for each show, so booking is essential. Wildworks is asking for ticket payment on a ‘pay what you can’ basis but has suggested a contribution of £10 per ticket would be adequate for this level of cultural and ‘edgy’ experience. The company is funding the show itself and will have a commitment to all staff involved in terms of paying their wages so this contribution would be greatly appreciated. There are also 100 tickets reserved for local residents of the Tin Coast (those with a TR19 postcode) and sales of these will operate on the same, ‘pay what you can’ basis.
Emma Hogg, Wildworks executive director says, “We are really excited to launch Meet Me at The Edge. It is a unique set of performances in the most sensational setting of Botallack and will inspire all kinds of emotion. It was important for us to create new work that allows audiences to safely come together, explore new ways of making theatre in these challenging times and utilise our experience of working outdoors, responding to the world around us and creating opportunities for human connections.
The shows will take place for one day and one day only. We anticipate a high level of interest so booking in advance is essential”
Emma continued, “What is so special about this concept is that every individual person’s experience will be different and unique to them. This is partly because we all naturally perceive and understand things differently but also because the performances across varying times of the day will see the turning of the tide, alterations in light and changing weather conditions so it’s a truly ‘moving’ and elemental feat. We would recommend visitors bringing a small blanket, hunting stick or folding chair should they not wish to stand.”
From its base in Cornwall, Wildworks’ work takes place around the world, with projects taking place in 21 countries, with over 45,000 participants and an audience reach of an excess of 1 million. Recent Wildworks’ locations have included Belgium, Palestine, Malta and UK beaches, gardens, castles, skylines, basements and more. Key past productions include The Day our World Changed and 100: UnEarth with 1418 and the Lost Gardens of Heligan, The Enchanted Palace with Kensington Palace, Once and Twice Upon a Castle with Kasteel van Gaasbeek, near Brussels in Belgium, Wolf’s Child with Trelowarren, Cornwall, The Beautiful Journey with Devonport Dockyard, and The Passion with National Theatre Wales and Michael Sheen.
The project will be performed seven times, over a period of just one day at 6.30am, 8.30am, 10.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm, 4.30pm, 6.30pm. The 10.30am, 2.30pm and 4.30pm events will offer sign language interpretation. All screenings are suitable for families with children aged 11 plus. Each piece will last approximately 60 minutes in duration and audience numbers will be limited to 50 maximum to ensure social distancing regulations are met whilst maintaining a level of intimacy, engagement and enjoyment for all participants. Strict hygiene measures will also be in place.
Tickets can be booked through the Cornish Riviera Box Office above.
Please discuss any access needs with the box office team at time of booking and the Wildworks team can make additional arrangements.
www.wildworks.org.uk
