Take Art Event Programme Aug - Nov 2024 by takeart333

Event Programme

Aug - Nov 2024 Music | Theatre | Dance | Circus | Family

A Message From

Executive Director, Take Art

Ralph Lister

Take Art continues to flourish and keep the arts flag flying in Somerset despite the many pressures we face.

We were delighted by the response to the Big Give campaign; with your help we raised over £4,500. It was especially gratifying that this was made up of nearly 50 individual donations, showing support for Take Art at a local level. We also attracted two significant donations of around £1,000. Thank you all for your contribution and encouragement, it means a lot to us.

Along with the sunny weather of course, I hope you'll enjoy our bumper outdoor circus programme made possible by the Take Art led circus project, Circus Around And About 2.

There are exciting shows in Somerset and beyond suitable for all the family.

We are also looking forward to seeing you all again at Chill On The Hill on 1 September for a day of workshops, tasty local food and specially selected performances.

Our more regular activities and events will be taking place over the next few months offering something for everyone. At this challenging time for the country it's good to remember how important the arts and creativity are. They nourish the soul, help us make sense of ourselves and the world, and enable us to imagine a life affirming future.

Ralph

Hello From The Team

Take Art Behind The Scenes!

Rural Touring: An Artist's Experience

Interview with Blair Dunlop

Bringing rural audiences and worldclass artists together is always a special experience, one we're very passionate about at Take Art. We love facilitating connection, evoking smiles and laughter, and enjoy people leaving our events inspired and happy.

In our last issue we introduced you to Mary, who talked about her role as a rural touring promoter. Now we bring you the thoughts of award winning singer-songwriter and guitarist Blair Dunlop, who toured with us in the 2023/24 season.

What did you like about your Rural Touring gigs last season?

Getting to bring my music to different rural communities is always a pleasure

for me, but getting to know Somerset was particularly fulfilling. I live in Bristol now, so it was a great way to get a feel for the surrounding areas. It's a beautiful part of the world, and somewhere I'd not really explored in the same way as my native Midlands. I found the audiences to be very engaged and receptive to my music, which obviously helps!

Was there a particular moment that stood out to you?

I have to say that the Curry Mallet gig was particularly fun. There was a lot of interaction, and I really enjoyed chatting to everyone before and after the gig. There were a lot of characters out that night. I did the encore number off-mic, acoustically, and the atmos-

Photo

Ania Shrimpton

phere was really special. I also liked the sound of the room, sometimes that just happens, even in village halls. So that was probably my standout gig of the run.

What did you enjoy about visiting Somerset and was anything different from your rural shows in other parts of the UK?

Honestly, I would say the hospitality was particularly good. The standard of cooking was off the scale! On top of that, a couple travelled up from Devon and brought some homemade hot sauce as a gift.

Of course, the music is important, but not quite as important as eating! We have definitely been spoiled on this run.

What makes this method of touring different from shows in independent venues and theatres?

It's a lot more intimate, and there's certainly a communal aspect that you don't get from conventional touring. You really feel like you've been parachuted into the community for a few hours; and seeing the locals interact, knowing that you've played your part in bringing them together, is something unique to Rural Touring.

I guess the scarcity of local artistic events breeds a gratitude that you don't find in bigger towns and cities.

You have just released your fifth studio album Out of the Rain. How are you feeling about it and where can people buy it?

I feel great about it! I think it's my best ever. Jim Moray did a great job as producer, and for once I'm not already completely sick of an album that has only been out a couple of weeks! It's available on all streaming platforms, and from my website blairdunlop. com - digital, CD and vinyl.

Soil Story: So much more than the mud under our feet!

By Mark Helyar, Director of Theatre

Soil is the source of all life, literally and metaphorically. It helps produce 95% of our food and is home to 25% of the earth’s species. Did you know? I certainly didn’t!

After some research, we decided this would be a great basis for a new project in our Cultivate programme, which is about using the arts to tell the local food story. And, of course, most of our food starts with soil.

In his book, Soil, Soul, Society, lifelong activist Satish Kumar writes:

"If we take care of the soil, the soil will take care of us all. Through the soil we are all interrelated and connected. All living beings depend on the soil and the soil treats all living beings equally."

Inspired by these words, Soil Story came to life! We brought together two groups: socially isolated adults with additional needs who attended ARK at Egwood, a transformational landbased project, and home educated young people at Rama Life in Merriott. The project happened in two phases. Phase one explored the ‘literal’ value of healthy soil, with participants at ARK examining the important nutrients and organisms in the soil, looking at nature through a microscope and getting into the wormery.

Inspired by a workshop run by Lara Honnor from School Beanz who shared her ‘no dig’ philosophy, the group decided to form a Compost Club. "It’s amazing to think how alive the soil is and what happens when we disrupt it," reflected one participant.

The young people at Rama Life also got their hands dirty. Despite initial scepticism from some, a mix of practical sessions and videos inspired insightful discussions around supermarket dominance, sampling and understanding the complexity of soil, and letting go and connecting with nature.

In Phase two, both groups used arts activities to explore the ‘metaphorical’ value of healthy soil and its relationship to resilient, diverse communities.

I visited one of the final sessions at Rama Life to chat to the young people about what they’d been up to. They’d created a display around the hall featuring pictures of their activities as well as beautiful, delicate artworks using soilbased paint.

They told me about their drama activity to explore the development of the planet and the origination of soil. They particularly enjoyed cooking using root veg and fruit to bake pasties and rhubarb

crumble. While preparing the vegetables some of them learned how to use a peeler for the first time.

But food wasn’t the only thing that went in their mouths! Some dared to try a bit of mud - "it doesn’t taste good!" - and during a visit from a local regenerative farmer, a few even sampled the pellets fed to the cows - "it’s like dry, out of date cereal!"

It was great to hear how exploring soil had encouraged them to try new things and help them to feel "more connected with nature and aware of the environment." In an inspiring session with performance poet Liv Torc, the group at ARK created a poem based on their feelings about what they wanted to compost, and then harvest:

"I compost my worry, anxiety, Stress, regret, Brussels 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.

"I’m thinking now about all the invisible world underneath us," shared a participant. "There’s so much going on down there. Soil is alive!"

Children make-believing, artists

belief-making

At Take Art our early years programmes and extensive partnership working is all about nurturing creativity in the lives of our youngest members of society. We know that creative experiences and encounters support both children and their significant adults – their teachers, carers and parents. Adults play a key role in our programmes, but the children are always placed at the very centre of everything we do.

We see young children as powerful, competent individuals able to express preferences and make active choices. Our approach is to develop environments and situations where young, enquiring minds can explore possibilities. The period from 0 – 5 years is a time of huge development, and we believe that encouraging creativity can make a real difference to progress, learning and wellbeing.

Our creative programmes are designed to directly support young children and to provide knowledge for and

increase the confidence of the adults in their lives. To do this we partner with local authorities, early childhood educators and organisations, plus artists who offer interesting and open creative encounters that are relevant to the current modern and diverse childhood experience.

Our recently completed three-year Early Years programme called Making & Believing is a wonderful example of this process. This cross-artform programme brought together artists, educators, arts organisations, researchers and cultural centres in Somerset, Derby City and Surrey from 2021 –2024. It was born out of the shared belief that the arts have a special educational role especially when it comes to developing imagination, curiosity and possibility thinking.

In partnership with Derby Theatre & Surrey Arts and with funding from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, we created a programme of early years creative par-

ticipation residencies and performance tours across all regions.

In our creative residencies we teamed up eight artists with various backgrounds - dance, puppetry, digital art, theatre, visual art and music – to collaborate. In pairs they visited 20 nurseries/preschools to offer creative activity sessions whilst working together with children and staff.

“It’s been an absolute joy to see the children playing freely and naturally”.

Project Co-ordinator, Derby

We chose six companies with an excellent track record of early years theatre and dance shows to take part in our performance tours. They travelled to nursery rooms, school halls, libraries and community centres, transforming these spaces into mini theatres, performig to over 4,000 children and accompanying adults.

Making & Believing was an action research programme led by Dr Susan Young. All the artists, early years practitioners and project staff from partner

organisations observed, recorded and came together regularly to share experiences, reflections and learning.

“..feeling like we’re all working together, all of us on the same mission to explore, to enrich, to be. It’s just been joyful”.

Artist, Surrey

Seeing all the interactions during this programme confirms to us that creative experiences enable children to express their ideas, take the lead on journeys of imagination, try out new things, solve problems and connect well with others through non-verbal as well as verbal interactions.

Resources from the project are now available on our Making & Believing project page on our website, as well as our YouTube channel.

Take Art will continue to offer programmes like this to support very young children and their adults through the joy and diverse experiences that creative activity can bring. Keep an eye on our website for updates.

Going Green

There is a Chinese proverb that says "the miracle is not to fly in the air or to walk on water, but to walk on the earth." So easy to forget, isn't it? This planet is what we all have in common and this is something we like to remind ourselves often at Take Art. All of us care deeply about our environment here and we know the little steps we take to be kinder to our planet do add up.

We were curious about our carbon footprint so we've undertaken a case study that examined our way of touring artists to remote locations versus conventional theatre touring. Our findings were beyond our expectations!

Blair Dunlop’s tour

In February 2024, singer-songwriter Blair Dunlop toured four Somerset

We measured Blair's travel from his home to each venue and back. We also took meter readings from each village hall. 250 people came to see him play between Thursday to Sunday, their travel information was also collected. We then used this information to calculate the carbon we produced bringing this amazing artist to people who do not have easy access to the conventional venues that Blair usually plays in.

Audience Travel

Most of our audience (79%) drove to the venue due to poor public transport in rural areas. This audience travel accounted for 95% of all the emissions produced during the tour.

The study revealed that Blair’s tour produced 20% less carbon than if the same number of people saw him in a theatre in a central location. This comparison was achieved using Julie’s Bicycle Carbon Calculator.

these anomalies to make our audience more typical of a rural touring crowd, the emissions from audience travel were reduced by 55%!

Our Venues

Rural Touring has sustainability in its DNA; we stage high quality shows in community venues – village halls, pubs and cafes. Using these spaces for performances as well as for their day-to-day activities means we are making the most of these village assets.

like to make sure that we’re impacting the environment as little as we can. It’s always something we think about, especially when organising artists’ tours. We want to make them as economical and sustainable as possible. At the end of every year, Take Art offsets the impact we do make so we are a carbon neutral company.

Further Steps

The four village halls Blair toured to had invested in their energy systems, one even had solar panels fitted. This all really helped to keep the halls heated during the chilly February run. When compared to one show in a typical small-scale theatre, our 4 date tour produced 90% less carbon per audience member!

Learning Points

Shane Shambhu

As audience travel made up most of the carbon emissions from Blair’s tour, we will be looking to assist promoters to encourage car shares, and audiences to use greener methods of travel. We plan to support the venues we work with to access funds to install cleaner energy systems. We also want to empower artists to ensure their shows impact the environment as little as possible, like reusing props and sets from other shows, or sharing with other companies. We will work nationally with our sector partners to ensure that environmental sustainability is at the

Our Turn

Our Turn is a Take Art arts intervention using dance and movement to help the health and happiness of vulnerable adults living with dementia or memory loss.

The sessions are led by specialist dance artists and help support falls prevention, improve physical and mental wellbeing, reduce loneliness and isolation, and provide carers with respite.

The sessions take place weekly from September and include a

dance and movement class, and a meet and greet with refreshments to provide some social time.

We have been working in partnership with Somerset Partnership and SPARK Somerset, and have also received input and guidance from the Community Mental Health Team at Magnolia House to help shape the project.

Dates & Details

Mondays | 1pm-4pm | St Peter's Community Centre, Yeovil | £10 | email ourturn@takeart.org to join us

aKa Dance Theatre: shed-ache

Shed-ache is a seriously silly dance theatre show that transports little people and their grown-ups to a world that sits somewhere between reality and make believe.

Two dancers and a shed on wheels get up to all sorts as they face downpours, lava floors and socks falling out of the sky. Experience the give and take of friendship, the power of the imagination and the importance to embrace experiences whatever the weather.

This brand new, family-friendly performance by Somerset-based aKa Dance Theatre is bright and sunny, with 100% chance of laughter!

The show is presented as part of a wider project that brings together a strong and unique collaboration of local people and organisations. The project aims to transform an area of unused land in the centre of Chard into a safe and inclusive outdoor community space, where people can enjoy nature, food, creativity and well-being activities together.

Dates & Details

18 August | 2pm, bring a picnic from 1pm | No need to book: this is a free event. But we’d be happy to receive donations on the day.

The performance will be next to Lifestyle Fitness, Holyrood Academy, Zembard Lane, Chard, TA20 1JL.

Recommended age: 2+.

Wassail Theatre: Birthday Day

Family ties, birthday celebrations and pavlova come together to reveal the secrets hidden in Somerset’s strawberries.

Birthday Day is a play about the truths and lies of a Somerset farming family. Three performers and the audience seamlessly entwine to create an annual family party, spanning 70 years. Uncle Brian, Cousin Georgina, Granny and Grandad: they’re all there to celebrate Jeanie and Lily, two sisters who share everythingincluding a birthday.

But one year, on one birthday, at one family party, things change forever. You are invited to join the birthday celebrations on the farm, and watch their story unfold.

Dates & Details

23 August | Speeds Farm, Lamyatt | 6:30pm | 07938

174468 or book via Take Art website

Chill On The Hill

Chill On The Hill, a family-friendly event celebrating diversity in nature, food, arts and community, is back for 2024!

Cultivate is delighted to work with Ham Hill Country Park again to bring you a fun day filled with creativity, live performances, workshops, music, dance and local food. Join us for the last hoorah of the summer holidays!

This year will celebrate diverse communities in South Somerset, welcoming everyone on the hill to explore nature and the land with a

South Asian flavour.

Expect great company, community spirit, superb entertainment and of course, yummy food. If you prefer to bring a picnic, come prepared or bring cash or card to support our local producers, who will be trading and ready to serve you from midday.

Dates & Details

1 September | Ham Hill Country Park stone circle | 10am-4pm | free - for workshop bookings, full information & schedule visit the Take Art website

Kala Chethana Kathakali Company: Kathakali

Enter the magical world of Kathakali, a dance drama from Kerala in south India. It is a highly visual, emotional, and powerful performance that captures human nature through theatre.

Observe the destruction of war and how arrogance plays its role in the breakdown of humanity.

Drop into the venue throughout the day to see the facepainting in action an hear more about the traditions surrounding the stories.

The costumes, makeup and colours are breath-taking and will fill Somerset’s halls with visual delight.

Dates & Details

21 Sept | Caryford Community Hall | 7.30pm, doors 7pm | £15 including Indian spicy snacks | 01963 350980

27 Sept | St. Peter & St. Paul’s Church, North Curry | 6.30pm, doors open 6pm | Adults £15, secondary school age £5, accompanied younger children free | Tickets available at North Curry Post Office

29 Sept | Croscombe Village Hall | 7pm | £14 adult, £9 low income/ under 25, £5 under 16s | 07771 814270 or Take Art website

Panta Rei: Petals and Snails

As we grow older does our imagination become less important? Do we let go of the magic? Why does everything have to make sense?

When children transition into teenagers, they play less, forgoing imagination and fantasy for more serious pursuits and relationships as they try to find their place in the world. Can we remind children to hold on to the wonderful world of fairy tales?

Using an original score and poetry, this show tells the story of the Flowerpot Man, a magical tale that encourages children to allow wonderful, incredible and improbable things to be a part of their lives.

Perfect for children aged 5-12 and their families

Dates & Details

4 Oct – Hatch Beauchamp Village Hall | 5pm | £11 adult/£5 child 01823 481909 | cakes, snacks and drinks available

Six Inches of Soil:

A Story of Courage, Vision & Hope

Six Inches of Soil is a documentary feature film telling the inspiring story of three young farmers standing up against the industrial food system and transforming the way they produce food – to heal the soil, our health and provide for local communities.

Half the food we eat in the UK is produced by about 180,000 farmers who manage 70% of the land. Current “industrial” mainstream farming practices significantly contribute to soil degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change.

Regenerative farming practices, within an agroecological system, promote healthier soils, provide healthier, more affordable food, restore biodiversity and sequester carbon.

As the trio of young farmers strive to adopt regenerative practices and create viable businesses, they meet seasoned mentors who help them on their journey. They are joined by other experts providing wisdom and solutions from a growing movement of people who are dedicated to changing the trajectory for food, farming and the planet.

Dates & Details

11 October 2024 | 7pm | Wadham School, Yeovil Road, Crewkerne, Somerset, TA18 7NT | the event is free, but there is a limited number of seats, so please book via Take Art website

Good Habits: Live

One of the most exciting new duos to come out of the UK, Good Habits’ award-winning, genre-fusing sound has received international critical acclaim in the short 4 years they have been performing.

Bonnie Schwarz (cello + vocals) and Pete Shaw (accordion) mix virtuosic musicianship and vocal harmony with vivid storytelling, weaving them into an action-packed narrative of folky goodness. Step into Bonnie and Pete’s joyful world and leave feeling elated and energised.

Dates & Details

17 Oct - St. Leonard’s Church, Pitcombe BA10 0PE | 6.30pm | £15 adult, child free | Tickets from c.brook@ucl.ac.uk

18 Oct – Curry Mallet and Beercrocombe Village Hall | 8pm | £12 | 077888 17619 or Outpost Stores, Curry Mallet

19 Oct – East Quantoxhead Village Hall | 8pm | £11/£6 concessions | 07876 747578

Nikki & JD: Knot

Physically exhilarating and touchingly poignant, Knot is the internationally acclaimed dance/ circus show by Nikki Rummer and JD Broussé.

These talented performers use hand-to-hand circus skills to tell the tale of an impossible choice: how can we be honest with ourselves without hurting those we love? Knot is a finely crafted journey through the struggles of commitment.

Created in collaboration with awardwinning choreographer Ben Duke of Lost Dog Dance Company, Knot is a very modern affair told with delicate sensitivity through breathtaking acrobatics and heart-wrenching dance.

Dates & Details

2 November | St Paul's Junior School, Shepton Mallet | doors 8pm, show 8:30pm | tickets £10/£6 consession or under 25s from Take Art website

“Great work, sophisticated, sexy and yearning.”

- Lyn Gardner for Stage Door

“Knot is brutally honest and highly personal”.

Herald Scotland

Larkhall:

Piano Of The Future

What if you could see music?

Meet Larkhall, the award-winning concert pianist and Otto, his computer co-performer. Otto isn’t just your ordinary AI; it’s a virtuoso in its own right. It possesses the remarkable ability to decipher the intricate musical nuances within a song, translating them into stunning visuals that dance in perfect harmony with the sound.

Imagine being able to not just hear, but actually see the music, with astonishing precision and creativity.

Weaving together music, art, and technology, Larkhall offers a unique, unforgettable piano concert that pushes the boundaries of creativity.

Dates & Details

2 November | Axbridge Town Hall | 7.30pm | £11/£8 concessions | 01934 732128

Plus more dates in Spring 2025! What's

Teatro 4Garoupas: Chiffonnade

A planetary sphere rolls across the stage, or is it perhaps an ark or a cocoon house?

A dancer glides between the folds and wrinkles of fabrics, between the waves of chiffon scarves, silk... Growing up is a metamorphosis.

Somewhere between dream and reality, full of emotions, and as colourful as life itself, Chiffonade is about growing up, blossoming, releasing oneself from the chrysalis, discovering the world and flying until even-

“It’s beautiful, intriguing, cheeky and ultimately surprisingly transgressive – one of the best reveals I’ve ever witnessed in theatre!”

(Kate Cross - Director The Egg Royal Theatre, Bath, UK)

tually, the dancer finds her freedom in the most extraordinary way you can imagine..

For ages 1-6 and their families

Dates & Details

Monday 11 November – Trinity Hub, Radstock | £3 adult, children free | 01761 437962

“I just saw this show and I wish I could see it again!”

(Child's impression in Shanghai, China)

Maya Productions: Súper Chefs

Participate in a unique experience exploring food, gender roles and Latin American culture through singing, dancing, and real-life cooking!

6-year-old Manny is bursting with excitement at the thought of preparing a welcome home dinner for his dad who’s been away.

His granny, Abuela Alma, however, would rather Manny goes and plays with his toys than help in the kitchen. She thinks it’s “a woman’s place”. Manny feels differently. Why can’t he cook and learn to be a professional chef or a superhero when he grows up? Or both?

When a minor mishap risks putting the whole meal on the line, Manny will have to be resourceful to put things right with the help of Mighty Mujer, his superhero companion, and the audience!

Dates & Details

13 November – Norton sub Hamdon Village Hall | 11am & 2pm £10 adult, children free | Tickets available from Norton Village Shop

Hannah Maxwell:

I AmDram

I AmDram is a musical comedy memoir by writer-performer-comedian Hannah Maxwell. The show offers a unique blend of influences from theatre, performance art, stand up, spoken word and musicals.

Hilarious and touching, Maxwell’s solo storytelling has charmed audiences across the UK and Australia, in theatres, festivals, pubs and village halls. It's nonchalantly queer, because she is. There’s a bit of song and dance. Your mother would love it.

The story covers her family’s intense history and love affair with amateur musical theatre, Hannah’s

final show with them (My Fair Lady in 2010) and the subsequent tension and distance she feels when revisiting this world as a London-based lesbian live artist.

Dates & Details

14 November | Trinity Hub, Radstock | 7:30pm | £3 | 07853836007

15 November | Roadwater Village Hall | 7.30pm | £10 | 07745 318486

16 November | Croscombe Village Hall | 7:30pm | £10 | £6 low income/under 25s | 07771 814270

17 November | Holford & District Village Hall | 7.30pm | £11, £8 Concessions £28 family ticket 2+2 | 07843 348057

Luke Wright: JOY

“Breathtaking … with a sharpness and wisdom that lifts the soul, and soothes the battered heart” – The Scotsman

Following the smash hit success of his Silver Jubilee show, Luke Wright returns with a new set of poems that get to grips with the idea of JOY.

Is it possible, as a 42 year old to feel pure unbridled happiness, and what does it look like?

The poet writes urgently and warmly about family, fatherhood, and the joy of language itself. We might have to go down to come up, but we’ll get there in the end.

Come let a little joy into your life with a raconteur and wordsmith at the top of his game. Content warning: strong language

Dates & Details

22 November | The Crooked Swan, Crewkerne | 8pm, doors 7.30pm | £10/£8 concessions | tickets from Green Dragon Bookshop, The George Shopping Centre

23 November | Langport Town Hall | 7.30pm | £12, £8 concessions | 01458

250679 | venue is upstairs with no disabled access

Poppy Plowman: Turk(ish)

Turk(ish) is an empowering, autobiographical show by contemporary circus artist Poppy Plowman. The show combines live music, high skill, humour and intimate storytelling.

Poppy uses tightwire and hair hanging to explore personal struggles of identity and Western beauty standards. Through her story we follow Poppy

as she embraces who she is, encouraging and inspiring audience members to do the same and to nurture an anti-oppressive attitude.

She has collaborated with cellist Zara Hudson and together they combined their passions to create Turk(ish).