Songwriter Boff Whalley and I work together as THAT THERE, creating new song cycles about the place we're in. I write the words, Boff writes the music, then we egg each other on to get better, until it's done.
We work with communities to create songs about their relationship with their place, then we work with those communities to stage and sing those songs. All of our work arises from a belief that, for better and for worse, places make people. People make places too, also for better and for worse. But by acting collectively, people make places better - and themselves too.
Here's a blogpost I wrote about the process of creating our most recent one, EVERYTHING THERE EVER WAS.
Below is a little information on the three major projects we've produced together so far. If you click on the image, you get a link to the film of the project.
We work with communities to create songs about their relationship with their place, then we work with those communities to stage and sing those songs. All of our work arises from a belief that, for better and for worse, places make people. People make places too, also for better and for worse. But by acting collectively, people make places better - and themselves too.
Here's a blogpost I wrote about the process of creating our most recent one, EVERYTHING THERE EVER WAS.
Below is a little information on the three major projects we've produced together so far. If you click on the image, you get a link to the film of the project.
WONDERSTRUCK. Commissioned by People United and Manchester Museum (2014). Directed by Daniel Bye and Sarah Punshon, with Josh Coates. A song cycle inspired by the collections of Manchester Museum, about how everything in the history of the universe has led to us gathered together singing these songs.
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WE'RE HERE. Commissioned by Somerset House and the Kings College Cultural Institute as part of their Utopia season (2016). Created with Dr David Green, directed by Sarah Punshon. A choral epic about living with strangers in cities, sung by a choir of strangers who were between them demographically representative of the population of urban Britain.
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EVERYTHING THERE EVER WAS. Commissioned by East Durham Creates and co-produced with Unfolding Theatre (2018). Directed by Annie Rigby, design by Bethan Maddocks, musical director Beccy Owen. A family epic with songs, telling the deep history of beautiful Crimdon Dene through the eyes of a family who have to leave. A live band, marching brass, a community choir, seaside games, and even a picnic. This was a full THAT THERE festival!
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As THAT THERE, we create work in response to opportunities and commissions. If you'd like to work with us, get in touch.