Details

As London faces up to significant population growth and the need to update the aging sewer system created by Sir Joseph Bazalgette, this tale of underground artists rediscovers the summer of 1858, the year of the ?Big Stink', when London's rivers filled with sewage, forcing the House of Commons to stop sitting because of the smell. Using S.O.U.R.C.E, the Scientific Orienteering Universal River Charting Engine, six performers representing six waterways in outer London boroughs tell stories and historic moments connecting Victorian London to pioneering philanthropists, social reformers, artists, inventors and engineers from a diverse social spectrum. The company and vehicle will be in residency at each of the six venues for five days to engage with the community, rehearse, and run workshops, culminating in a final outdoor performance of circus, street theatre and live music from the Summer into the Autumn of 2014. The company will work with members of the local community, drama students, and young people at each of the venues, introducing participants to a variety of outdoor performance techniques ready to take part in a bespoke performance on the final day of residency. Each show will contain six lead characters, one to represent each area, and will be led in each location by the character representing the area. Gangs of tunnellers buried with the rivers have been living underground for over a hundred years, living off stories and music that have seeped and dripped through the earth. As cracks appear in the ground, rivers start to explode into the overground world carrying away the carefully collected stories and music of London's past and present. The ancient tunnellers are forced to travel into the light to enlist the help of the overgrounders to plug the leaks of music and story. Running time: 45mins. Suitable for all ages.

Cast/Performers

Julia Cheng, George Fuller, Verity Clayton, Arce Lopez Gutierrez, Charlie Folonrunsho, Cid Shaha

Creatives/Company

Presented by: The Circulate Consortium
Company(s): Cirque Bijou, Nutkhut
Director(s): Billy Alwen, Ajay Chhabra