Sunday 31 August 2008

the Severn Project?

Want to Take Part in the Severn Project?



What is it?

The Severn Project provides and creates annual outdoor performances and events for the communities living alongside the River Severn. In 2008, we are creating two performances called Sabrina and the Engineer celebrating the River and its relationship with the Industrial Revolution. There are a number of ways you can take part, perform or help us make the event happen.

We would love to hear from people in the Bewdley and Bridgnorth areas who would like to get involved. Please see below some ways to take part.

Young People

Young People are invited to get involved in arts workshops at Bridgnorth Youth Centre, Innage Lane on 17th, 24th September and 1st October between 5.45pm and 8.30pm. If you’d like to take part all you need to do is turn up or if you’d like more information please phone Rosie Hopkins on 01746 763967.

Local Musicians

If you are a musician or a member of a local music group, please get in touch with Alexa Mearns (Bridgnorth) on: 01746 713194 or Loz Samuels (Bewdley) on: 01562 732977 to find out how to take part.

Would you like to help us make this event happen?

In Bridgnorth and Bewdley we need people who know the towns well, are confident working with the public and free during the day of the event for training. The roles include stewarding, supporting our production teams and providing information for the public. Please get in touch with Hannah Ashwell at severnproject@gmail.com or by phone: 07768 432842 for more details.



Sabrina and the Engineer

Performances of colour, light, music and song created by: Avanti Display, pa-BOOM, Emergency Exit Arts & The Project Group

Bewdley Worcestershire • Saturday 27 Sept 2008

18.30 Welcome Mr Ferrous with local musicians at the Severn Valley Railway. The fiery procession then heads for the River.

18.45 Dress in your finest and meet the procession at Severnside South.

19.30 Magical fire and water displays celebrate Mr Ferrous’ first encounter with Sabrina.

This celebration is part of the West Midland’s open weekend celebrating the launch of the Cultural Olympiad.

Bridgnorth Shropshire • Saturday 4th Oct 2008

18.30 Mr Ferrous’ party gather at the Town Hall. Local musicians accompany Mr Ferrous as he greets his guests.

19.00 Dress to impress and join us as the procession moves through the town for a spectacular finale performance of colour, light, music and song by the River.



Bewdley Free Workshops

6th September 2008 +20th September 2008

Free arts workshops for those who want to bring a little extra sparkle to the proceedings

Venue The Education Room, Bewdley Museum, Load Street, Bewdley, DY12 2AE

Time 10.30 – 15.00 Drop in at any time

Contact For more information about the Bewdley event, please phone

Loz Samuels on 01562 732977

Bridgnorth Free Workshop

27th September 2008

A free arts workshop for those who want to bring a little extra sparkle to the proceedings

Venue Bridgnorth Library, Listley Street, WV16 4AW

Time 10.30 – 15.00 Drop in at any time

Contact For more information about the Bridgnorth event, please phone Sue Goodwin on 01743 255078




NOTES TO EDITORS

EVENT TIMETABLE

27th September 2008, Bewdley

4th October 2008, Bridgnorth



KEY PERSONNEL

Sue Goodwin, Head of Arts and Development, Shropshire County Council

Loz Samuels, Arts and Play Development Officer, Wyre Forest District Council

Artistic Directors: Michael Lister, Avanti Display and Dave Chadwick, pa BOOM! Fireworks

Community Programme Director: Deb Mullin, Emergency Exit Arts

Project Manager: Hannah Ashwell

www.severnproject.com

2008 LEAD ARTISTS

The Severn Project has been working in collaboration with selected artists over the last year to create the 2008 programme of events and to plan the future of the project. This year’s lead artists are:

AVANTI DISPLAY

Avanti Display create street theatre with shows that combine comedy, surrealism, farce and spectacle. Utilising their skills in creative engineering and their trademark of using water in unexpected ways they produce shows with dramatic, often beautiful and comic effects. They recently developed a large scale, site specific, collaborative project, Hydromania!, for the National Theatre, Trafalgar Square and Manchester Town Hall. The company has toured the length and breadth of the U.K and Europe, appeared at festivals as far afield as Korea, Noumea and Australia and have taken part in British Council tours to Thailand and China.

PA-BOOM

Pa-Boom is a collection of artists, sculptors, designers and technicians producing work, shows and projects using the medium of sculpture and theatre animated by fire, light and pyrotechnics. Previous work in Shropshire includes the breathtaking Light Horse sculpture, created with members of the community. For the Severn Project, they are collaborating with Desperate Men to realise the climax of the 2007 events in Bridgnorth in August.



EMERGENCY EXIT ARTS

Founded in 1980, Emergency Exit Arts (EEA) is an artist-centred organisation with a creative pool of performers, musicians, designers, visual artists, pyrotechnists, puppeteers, makers, composers and inventors and is led by artistic director Deb Mullins. EEA runs a large and varied programme and has become one of the UK's leading street arts companies producing unique celebratory events and community based projects.



Supporting Companies and Special Commissions

THE PROJECT GROUP

The Project Group is an emerging social enterprise which provides a creative, progressive and entrepreneurial environment for individuals, who are in touch with Adult Mental Health Services, to achieve to their full potential at their own pace. The Project Group are creating an installation for the performances drawing on the history of the river and the communities along its banks.

CHRIS SMART – SILVA PRODUCTIONS

Chris has over 18 years experience with assignments ranging from documentary photography in a war-torn Bosnia to powerful films made for clients that include, the BBC, Granada Media, The Department of Health and the NHS.



PROJECT FUNDERS

The Severn Project 2008 is supported by Arts Council England West Midlands, The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Shropshire County Council, Wyre Forest District Council, Bridgnorth District Council and The Elmley Foundation.