RESEARCH project, “Outside the Box,” commissioned by University of Exeter academics is offering a season of environmental outdoor performances in Exeter in August.

The outdoor performances have been commissioned by University of Exeter academics who are leading a major research project into outdoor performances. Their work will show how city centres can “build back better” after the coronavirus pandemic in performances that think about new relationships with their audiences and pay attention to urban ecologies.

The study is led by Evelyn O’Malley with Cathy Turner, Tim Coles and Giselle Garcia. Project partners are Exeter City Council and Exeter Culture and it is funded by a UKRI AHRC covid-19 rapid response grant.

Researchers asked the artists to create performances on environmental themes, celebrating connections with nature and the pleasures of sustainability.

Full commissions are GPS Embroidery: “Acts of (in)visible repair” (Lizzie Philps), “Exeter At Sea” (Sheila Ghelani and Sue Palmer) and “Tell it to the Bees” (Louise Wilson).

A further three “Cultivator" commissions have been offered to support artists in developing new ideas. These are “At the End of the Day” (A Quiet Night In); “Swan and the Same” (Running Dog Theatre); and “Ears to the Ground” (Onestep Theatre).

Professor Turner said: “Each of these artists has a fantastic track record of working in outdoor spaces and we hope to learn from their example, to establish guidelines for best practice and to understand the possibilities for a shift in leisure activities towards greater appreciation of urban ecologies.

“These will be really fun, thought-provoking events where people can explore Exeter and meet leading artists.”

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