- Performance,
- Collectivity
“And if we could talk to each other face to face and tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, where would we even begin?"
This winter ANU, the multi-award winning multi-disciplinary company heralded by The Irish Times as making the “most searing works of the past decade”, bring an explosive new site-responsive performance to the town of St Helens.
Simultaneously uplifting and unsettling, TORCH blurs the edges between the real and imagined, tearing through private and public spaces and taking audiences on a high octane, unrelenting journey.
The outcome of a two year research phase between ANU and women from St Helens, this brand new all female production delves into historical and contemporary events, bringing the voices of communities and untold stories to the fore.
“The truth is, there are things that go beyond us. There are feelings that rise and rush over us that we can’t begin to explain, and the truth is we want something more or at least something new and there is a relief in not telling the truth, because the truth is, if we did, the whole town could implode.”
TORCH is part of Helen, a series of art projects and programmes of work created by partners Heart of Glass, idle women, and ANU and the women of St Helens and made possible by Arts Council England’s Ambition for Excellence programme.
Helen proposes a deep and radical need to dismantle in order to reveal, expose and rebuild. In a town with a higher than national average of domestic abuse, Helen responds to an urgent need to address violence against women in all its forms; the systematic, the structural, the domestic and the social.
Image: Ruth Connolly
Cast
Nandi Bhebhe
Etta Fusi
Sonia Hughes
Niamh McCann
Gillian McCarthy
Sarah Morris
Creative Team
Director: Louise Lowe
Creative Producer: Lynnette Moran
Production Manager: Sarah Rowland
Set Designer: Maree Kearns
Sound Designer: Sinéad Diskin
Costume Designer: Niamh Lunny
Stage Manager: Fiona Keller
Assistant Director: Samantha Cade
Production information
- Running time is 75 minutes (no interval)
- Recommended age 16 years+
- This show is an immersive promenade production in non-traditional performance spaces, so there will be standing and walking throughout. Audiences will view the work in small groups. Please wear appropriate and comfortable clothes and footwear.
- There won’t be a cloak room. Any coats/bags will remain with you throughout the performance. We recommend you avoid bringing any heavy bulky items.
- Audience members will be asked to meet at a town centre location with printed/digital tickets. This location will be emailed to ticket holders.
- Please arrive 15 minutes before the performance start time. Latecomers will not be admitted due to the nature of the show. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer refunds to latecomers.
Access
- BSL interpreted performances available.
- As described in the Production Information, the performances will be taking place in non traditional performance locations (these are not modern purpose built accessible buildings) and with walking / standing throughout.
- All efforts are being made to create an accessible environment. For all questions concerning accessibility please contact: torch@heartofglass.org.uk
Tickets
£6 Standard tickets
£3 Concessions (students, senior citizens, unwaged)
£4 Tickets available to those with a St Helens postcode - enter code TORCH and your postcode at checkout.
Tickets are available to purchase here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/torch-i-wanted-to-tear-the-house-apart-by-anu-tickets-51247064349
Show running times
Monday 19 November / 5.15pm, 7.15pm, 8.30pm (preview shows)
Tuesday 20 November / 5.15pm, 7.15pm, 8.30pm (preview shows)
Wednesday 21 November /5.15pm, 7.15pm, 8.30pm
Thursday 22 November /5.15pm, 7.15pm, 8.30pm
Friday 23 November 4pm/5.15pm, 7.15pm, 8.30pm
Saturday 24 November / 5.15pm, 7.15pm, 8.30pm
Monday 26 November /4pm, 5.15pm, 7.15pm, 8.30pm
Tuesday 27 November / 4pm (Audio Described) 5.15pm (Audio Described) 7.15pm, 8.30pm
Wednesday 28 November / 5.15pm, 7.15pm (BSL interpreted) and 8.30pm (BSL interpreted)
Thursday 29 November 4pm, 5.15pm, 7.15pm, 8.30pm (there will be a Q & A following this performance, ticket details to be announced)
Friday 30 November / 5.15pm, 7.15pm, 8.30pm
Saturday 1 December /5.15pm, 7.15pm, 8.30pm