The Crossing

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PRESS RELEASE
1 September 2020

Weston's Marine Lake is setting for World Premiere show

The Marine Lake in Weston-super-Mare is the outdoor setting for the World Premiere of
This Crossing, a new show inspired by writer and director Martin Bonger's own experiences of becoming a father and surviving a traumatic accident.

A socially distanced, outdoor performance with original music, storytelling and the setting sun, this world premier is a timely, tender story that mixes intimate emotions with the backdrop of a world in flux.

Martin Bonger in association with LittleMighty, Theatre Orchard and Culture Weston present:

THIS CROSSING
Marine Lake, Weston-Super-Mare, 25 – 27 Sept 2020.
Performances suitable for 14+ take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 6pm.

Tickets for the show cost £10 and are available from www.cultureweston.org.uk.

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1349. Death. A lot of death. The plague is running riot. It's a difficult time to bring up a baby.
Now. It's still a difficult time to bring up a baby.

In This Crossing, the two central characters make the same journey to the sea, 668 years apart. They are bound together by the shock of having created life, and are running away from the rush of emotion and fear that comes with new love.

Writer and Director Martin Bonger was inspired to create the piece with his own experiences of becoming a father and breaking his neck. However,
This Crossing isn't autobiographical, but unlocks themes from a personal story in a completely new context.

The onset of Coronavirus has given sudden extra resonance to the show, which is partly set during the time of the Black Death. However, the pandemic has also meant that the project was in danger of being lost. Originally conceived as an indoor theatre show, the first planned performances at Salisbury Playhouse had to be cancelled when Covid-19 forced the temporary closure of the venue.

Working in association with Theatre Orchard and Culture Weston, a new vision for the piece has been realised, with the picturesque Marine Lake in Weston-Super-Mare becoming an ideal setting for a story surrounded by the sea.

During the show, members of the audience are seated a safe distance away from each other, and are given a set of headphones on which to listen to the show's soundtrack, while watching the changing light of a late summer's evening. In the edge of their vision, they notice a person moving. An actor, or just a passer-by?

Following the performance, the audience will also be sent a filmed version of the story, featuring material by Weston-based photographer Paul Blakemore. Based on poetic imagery inspired by the show, it offers a unique additional take on the material.

Writer & Director Martin Bonger commented:
"It's been a pleasure to partner with the brilliant Theatre Orchard to make This Crossing. Their enthusiasm and willingness to step into new territory and look at unusual ways of delivering this work has been so encouraging in the face of much of the theatre world closing its doors or needing to shut down. I've journeyed with the story for a long time, and although the past months have been strange and uncertain, it feels like the show has real resonance and might reach people in new ways. I'm looking forward to its arrival and with the music, visuals and story think it should be a breathtaking experience for our audiences."
Fiona Matthews, Creative Director at Theatre Orchard and Culture Weston added:
"Whilst there has been an incredible array of online theatre available over the past few months, there is something unique and emotional about connecting with others over live performance in a shared space. It's been a joy therefore to have the opportunity to partner with Weston-based artist Paul Blakemore, acclaimed theatre-maker Martin Bonger and producers Little Mighty, to reimagine what was envisaged as a stage production into a multi-media theatrical experience for Weston's great outdoors. What better performance arena than the Marine Lake at sunset to enjoy what promises to be a really special live arts event."

Tickets for the show cost £10 and are available from www.cultureweston.org.uk.

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