It was dance - but not as we know it!

Community performers joined professional dancers at the weekend, for an out-of-this-world show.

HOME was performed across the weekend at Culture House | Sunderland Echo

placeholder image — HOME was performed across the weekend at Culture House | Sunderland Echo

To mark Culture House’s opening in Keel Square, a unique dance show, called HOME, was commissioned to tell the story of a budding young Mackem astronaut who reaches for the stars.

Performed and conceived by Southpaw Dance, who are based at Sheepfolds Stables, dancers were joined by around 80 community participants to stage the show in various rooms throughout the venue.

In a unique twist, audience members could wear VR headsets as they walked around the building. While the dancers can be seen through the headsets, it also adds an extra layer of virtual reality as the dancers interact with dragons, computer game characters and more.

To facilitate the performances it meant that the new venue was closed to all but ticket holders over the weekend, reopening again for its usual hours of 10am to 6pm seven days a week from 10am on Monday, September 28.

Pupils from St Anthony’s Girls’ Catholic Academy were among the first to see the performance, which also told the story of Sunderland’s new multi-purpose venue, which houses City Library, galleries, podcast studios, inventor’s lab and much more.

Audience members wore VR headsets which added an extra layer of virtual reality to the performance | Submitted

Kate Stebbing, an English teacher at St Anthony’s, who coordinates the school’s SHINE-funded project, said the production was ‘fantastic’ with ‘wonderful, stand-out performances.’

She said: “For many students, the arts give them an opportunity to shine. They can express themselves and be inspired, so watching a show like HOME, and having the Culture House here in Sunderland, was very empowering. We can raise aspirations while giving children a sense of belonging.”

Local people who had taken part in HOME included Elaine Ferguson, 74, who has been going along to Southpaw’s AMPLIFY classes, its community performance programme, for years.

“It’s been great being a part of the performance. It’s always challenging but that’s a good thing. I love the fun of it and the camaraderie with the other performers. We’re all friends together and we look after each other,” she said.

Fellow performer Kira Atkinson, 21, who also goes along to AMPLIFY classes, said: “Being part of the production is an amazing opportunity and after performing it with everyone I was left with such a buzz. I loved it.”

Mickey O’ Donnell, 34, added: “I thought the performance went really well. I really enjoyed the sharp, dynamic style of the choreography and the exciting energy that built throughout the piece, particularly in the finale.”

Robby Graham, Artistic Director at Southpaw, said: “HOME was a beautiful way to celebrate the opening of such a wonderful building and we were very excited that we were chosen to be such a key part of the celebrations.”

Leanne Littlewood, Culture House Director, said: “HOME is a spectacular event and we couldn’t think of a better way to mark the opening of Culture House.”

The dance project is being funded by the UK Government as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund with thanks to the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority.