It’s been a particularly busy and productive summer for the theatre team. As much of our current activity includes the Cultivate programme, we’ve combined the two newsletters for this month to highlight some recent, and forthcoming, activity.
Community land-based project in Chard
Work will start this autumn on Germinate Stage 1, a pilot project to transform an area of unused land in the centre of Chard into a safe and inclusive outdoor community space. It’s the first stage of a long-term partnership that brings together a strong and unique collaboration of local people and sector partners through nature, food, creativity and wellbeing-based activities, to build a more resilient, healthy and creative community.
We can now start this project thanks to support from the National Lottery Community Fund and we look forward to collaborating with a range of partners, including Chard WATCH CIC, ARK at Egwood, Somerset Wildife Trust, Spark Somerset, Holyrood Academy, Chard Community Hub and Chard Council.
As a ‘taster’ for local residents to experience what this project could look like, we collaborated with Somerset-based aKa Dance Theatre to bring its new show, shed-ache, to perform on Sunday 18th August. It was a seriously silly dance theatre show enjoyed by many young children and their families who demonstrated an enthusiasm for wanting more! Two dancers and a shed on wheels got up to all sorts as they face downpours, lava floors and socks falling out of the sky.
Soil Story
The workshop programme for this project has almost finished, with just a few more sessions to go.
Two different groups have been exploring the secret world of soil: socially isolated adults with additional needs who attend ARK at Egwood, a transformational land-based project, and home educated young people at Rama Life in Merriott.
The early part of the project explored the ‘literal’ value of healthy soil by examining the important nutrients and organisms in soil and looking at nature through a microscope.
Inspired by a workshop run by Lara Honnor from School Beanz, the group at ARK formed a Compost Club and hosted a worm banquet! The young people at Rama Life also got their hands dirty; a mix of practical sessions and videos inspired insightful discussions around supermarket dominance, understanding the complexity of soil, and connecting with nature.
Later in the project, both groups used arts activity to explore the ‘metaphorical’ value of healthy soil and its relationship to resilient, diverse communities. In one session at ARK with performance poet Liv Torc, the group created a poem based on their feelings about what they wanted to compost, and then harvest:
"I compost my worry, anxiety
Stress, regret, Brussel sprouts,
Booing sound effects and sadness.
I compost cancer and overthinking.
In its place I plant problem solving
Acceptance and carrots, my family
Self-love, cures, fluffy cardigans and a sunrise."
It’s been wonderful to see how the project has helped people to socially connect with others, the land and the arts and flourish in a safe, nature-friendly environment.
Sewing Seeds of Gladness
The incredible Parish Map of South Petherton is now completed, but under wraps! It will be unveiled at the David Hall on Saturday 21st September, 10.30 to 12.30pm.
Sewing Seeds is an 18-month intergenerational, community stitching project for people and groups in the Parish of South Petherton. Aiming to celebrate the diversity and positivity of the Parish through creative stitching, it will feature over 100 beautifully embroidered pieces. Although we’re fortunate enough to have had a sneak preview, we can’t wait to see everyone else’s reactions when it’s unveiled in all its glory!
Six Inches of Soil
On Friday 11th October, in partnership with FilmCrew, we will be screening this inspiring story about three young farmers who stand up against the industrial food system and transform the way they produce food. Soil has been a theme of much of Cultivate’s activity this year so it’s great that we’re able to share this transformative film about regenerative farming practices with audiences in South Somerset.
The film will be screened at Wadham School in Crewkerne. More information visit this link.
OTHER SOMERSET NEWS
Theatre Group For Learning Disabled/Neurodivergent Adults
Selina Keedwell, Artistic Director of Somerset Youth Theatre, has been in touch to say:
We are so excited about our new drama group, a collaboration with the amazing Loveable & Somerset Youth Theatre - this is a really exciting project and we can’t wait to see what our guys produce.
We will be making creative expressive performances in SYT’s home which is Arts Hub, Flook House TA1 1BT (opposite the swimming pool) on the first Saturday of every month starting
📅 Saturday September 7th at 10.30am - 11.45pm
This group is for learning disabled adults / neurodivergent adults or those with additional needs. You do not need to be a Loveable member to join!
Finally… we’re looking forward to reporting next time on how some of our theatre and Cultivate projects are developing. In the meantime, we look forward to seeing you at some of our forthcoming events.
Take Art Theatre & Cultivate team