Newbury streets to be transformed by latest spectacular outdoor performance Event: Arquiem by Periplum
Venue: Starts Market Place, Newbury
Date: Friday 3 and Saturday 4 September 2010
Time: 8.30pm
Entry: FREE – no need to book
Information: http://www.newburyevents.co.uk/event.html?id=358&month=septemberAge guide : Contains scenes that may not be suitable for some children
‘An intense nocturnal promenade’ The Independent
‘Crackling with dark energy ‘Total Theatre’Newbury town centre will be transformed by dramatic after-dark performance, Arquiem, from highly-acclaimed UK outdoor theatre company, Periplum. It’s the latest large-scale outdoor arts event to be presented by Newbury Events, and follows the success of shows by French companies Transe Express and Quidams, which attracted crowds of 2500-3000.
As night falls on 3 and 4 September, a riotous performance will start at Market Place, telling the tragic story of a young boy who murders his lover to preserve the perfect moment. The story is inspired by William Blake's Songs of Innocence and Experience and Robert Browning's poem Porphyria's Lover. It uses pulsating live music, stilted characters, spectacular pyrotechnic effects and beautifully crafted moving structures to create a powerful and interactive performance.
Nick Giles, Newbury Corn Exchange said: “Arquiem by Periplum is a compelling, dramatic and highly-visual after-dark show, the like of which has never been seen before in Newbury. Presenting large-scale outdoor arts events by major European and UK companies adds to Newbury’s thriving cultural scene – and I hope will encourage residents and visitors from further afield to enjoy what the town offers, now and year-round.”
Brighton-based Periplum was formed in 1999, and has toured extensively across the UK, Europe, Asia and Latin America. The company has received numerous accolades and nominations including Guardian Critics’ Choice awards, Edinburgh Fringe First and Independent Five Best Plays.
Newbury’s outdoor events programme is promoted by Newbury Corn Exchange and Newbury Town Centre Partnership, and funded by Greenham Common Trust.
Greenham Common Trust was established in 1997 to restore and safeguard Greenham Common from future development and transform the redundant US military buildings on the former nuclear airbase into a sustainable and mixed use business park – New Greenham Park. Over the last 12 years the Trust has given over £12m, generated from the business park, to hundreds of local community groups - helping arts, health, education, recreation and leisure, nature and conservation and social and community projects in the area.
NOTESAbout NewburyNewbury’s event programme builds on Newbury’s already significant cultural offering, which includes the Newbury Corn Exchange (which attracts 110,000 people every year) and the award-winning Watermill theatre. The town also hosts two nationally recognised festivals, The Newbury Spring Festival and Newbury Comedy Festival as well as events such as The Boxford Masques outdoor community theatre.
Investing in arts and culture is Newbury’s response to the recession – enhancing the cultural and retail offer to encourage people to choose Newbury for shopping and days out over other neighbouring towns.
Newbury has population of 45,000. As well as arts and culture, the town has significant retail opportunities including range of high street and independent shops, and a lively twice-weekly market. It is also one of the only places in the UK where a large new retail development is underway (Parkway:
http://www.parkwaynewbury.com). The town is ten minutes from the A34-M4 crossroads, putting Oxford, Southampton, Reading and Swindon within one hour’s drive. Central London is a 90-minutes by car or an hour by train. Newbury is also home to Vodafone and Bayer, the pharmaceuticals company.
About Greenham Common TrustThe Trust was established in 1997 to restore and safeguard Greenham Common from future development and transform the redundant USAF military buildings on the former nuclear airbase into a sustainable and mixed use business park – New Greenham Park. The Trust has since received two Queens’s Awards for Enterprise for New Greenham Park ’s sustainability, including innovation and dedication to helping small businesses grow and providing employment opportunities for local residents. Over the last 12 years the Trust has given over £12m, generated from the business park, to benefit hundreds of local community groups, helping the arts, health, education, recreation and leisure, nature and conservation and social and community projects.
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