Writing workshops cast a spell over Great Alne
The history of a south Warwickshire village will be brought to life next week in an art project that will involve young and old alike.
Residents in Great Alne will be recording memories of village life as the basis for several creative pieces of work as part of the Another Country project.
On Friday 9 June, villagers of all ages will be creating their own ‘legend of Great Alne’ as the basis for a short performance about the village’s history.
Sound artist Charlie Dark, who teaches poetry and creative writing, will lead the session. Everyone taking part will produce a small piece of work, which will then be developed into a short play.
“I think most people have the craving to get up on a stage. These inter-generational workshops can be great fun for everyone and bring the whole story of the village together,” he said.
Students from the Seymour Centre, the local pupil referral unit, will be hosting a barbecue for residents as part of the activities on the Saturday, before a spell is cast over the village the following day.
Children will be writing spells to conjure up storms in a workshop based on Prospero’s spells in the Tempest. The spells will be used for a performance in July at the Bridgehouse Theatre in Warwick as part of Warwickshire County Council’s involvement with the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Complete Works festival.
The PRU pupils have been working with artist Trevor Mathison and the Young Farmers Association to create film and images that aim to challenge the stereotypes of young people living in the countryside. They will be shown at the Royal Show in July
There will also be a sound-based exhibition at Rugby Art Gallery and Museum and a DVD of the project will be produced.
Another Country is funded by Warwickshire County Council and the Arts Council England in partnership with inIVA (Institute of International Visual Arts) and the Rugby Art Gallery & Museum.
Organiser Vikki Holroyd, from Warwickshire County Council’s Artists in Education programme, said: “Another Country is about giving people in Great Alne the chance to do something different. All too often rural areas get overlooked for innovative arts projects but this scheme will hopefully fire people’s imaginations and break down barriers that might unintentionally form within communities. People in the village are looking forward to these workshops this weekend and the exhibitions and performances that will follow them.”