UPDATE!

VAULT has launched: head on over to the website right now by clicking here, and stay up to date with the very latest by checking out the facebook page here.

We’ve got Silent Opera re-invigorating La Bohéme, Kindle Theatre’s sensory explosion The Furies, the flicker club presenting a classic and cutting edge collection of Hammer films, and a whole host more (and we mean over a dozen different shows). We’ve also got brilliant late nights lined up on the Fridays and Saturdays, curated by London’s finest party-people, including Videopia, Itchy Feet and Woodburner and more. Head over to the website for the full lowdown, and get booking – tickets are already on sale.

It’s with a big grin that I announce the next phase of our research and development into one of our most exciting upcoming projects, Conchita Cintron. In order to gather so much as from occasion we may glean about the reality of life for history’s greatest bullfightress, the Heritage Arts Company are going to Seville in a couple of weeks to see the bullfights themselves and explore the world of the Plaza.

Conchita’s story took her all over the world, from her native Peru, to London, to Portugal and Spain. We aim to take in the full sweep of her journey, one way or another, and it’s with notebooks and cameras at the ready that we set off to immerse ourselves in an alien cultural experience.

“Playful, original and brilliant” Observer
“A new way to see art” BBC

From helping to plan artist commissions (and that includes Christian Marclay and Mat Collishaw) to managing the budget, from getting heads together to solve technical conundrums to routing spectators through the Roundhouse, Heritage Arts provided the production with real expertise. Thanks goes especially to Lucy Atkinson at the Roundhouse, Michael Castellana at Ron Arad Associates, and the superlatively impressive Peter Wilms.

Projects like this – that don’t have a genre, that are outside classification – really interest us. Let us know what you’re up to – drop us a line.

Thanks for reading.

xx

A new arrival threatens this balance. A gargantuan, energy-emitting monolith has appeared: The Obleron. Each side is afraid, and expects trickery from their ancient enemies. The truce lasts, for now, but who can be trusted? Cras and Auria must keep their respective followers in line and preserve the peace whilst trying to find out what the presence of the Obleron means, and whether it is a harbinger of good or ill for their people.
This is where the festivalgoer comes in, playing the part of the faithful or fraudulent follower of either the Gods or the Monsters, whichever they choose to throw their allegiance behind. Every step of the way, the cultists, creatures, semi- and demi-gods which populate the festival grounds are a key part of the epic as it unfolds.

Hello!

It looks like summer might finally be upon us; it’s about time too.

We’ve got a nice busy summer lined up for anyone and everyone who feels in the festival mood, as we’re going to be appearing at not one, not two, but three festivals over the coming months.

In June, if you can hightail it all the way to Scotland, you can enjoy a Victorian-era beverage with us in the Beehive, as we’ll be hosting a venue for the fantastic Insider Festival which promises to be a picturesque, paradisal escape from the grey fingers of the big smoke.

You’ve probably heard of Bestival and its twin Camp Bestival; what you may not have heard is that there’ll be something rather Questy going down in the Dingly Dell featuring a Sententious Soothsayer and a Withered Wizard who some of you may find just a tad familiar.

The Heritage Arts Company spoke this week at the About Houses conference in Machynlleth, Wales. It’s very beautiful there, and we delved into local history as much as we could – Owain Glendwr and his mysterious disappearance are hot on our minds! We spoke about the field of Heritage and how to engage people with subjects that might appear difficult or elite.

Nik’s presentation of his autobiographical piece ‘Valley of the Water Dog’ last month had introduced Heritage Arts to a few in that corner of Wales, and we’re now planning a trip to Blaenau and Cwmorthin, to see the old miner’s houses and have a think about what kind of stories we could be telling.
Have a look as well at the fantastic resource – The Peoples Collection. A brilliant idea…

Have you clicked that lovely little truck drawing in the bottom right of the screen yet?

No?

Well, now’s your chance to jump in: Episode Two of the Radio S-HAC is online!

In this chapter, the hapless new controllers of this universal broadcast junkpile find themselves devoid of water, a situation which brings about a horrifying revelation: there can be no tea.

Featuring Herodotus on crocodiles, Johnny Flynn on guitar and legendary Bering Sea fisherman Daniel Wakefield with an exclusive account of a near fatal storm, you’d never forgive yourself for missing it.

Valley of the Water Dog: Above The Stone tells the story of a young couple who leave the big smoke behind for a taste of wilderness, and the changes in the seasons and their senses as they adapt. It features poetry, movement, music, video, light and sound, and is inspired by such various ideas as the writings of William Carlos Williams, Robert Frost, Sam Shepard, Patti Smith and Tom Waits.

It’s one night only, so if you happen to be in Wales that day, grab a ticket. If you’re not in Wales, book a train, then book a ticket. See you there.

 
Valley of the Water Dog: Above The Stone
Thursday March 3/ Iau 3 Mawrth
7.45pm £6 (£4)
01970 623232
www.aber.ac.uk/artscentre