Show-stopping performance set to continue Culture House opening celebrations

A bold and immersive production featuring live performance, digital visuals and powerful storytelling will celebrate the opening of one of Sunderland’s new cultural gems.

Entitled HOME, the performance will feature dozens of local participants in a large-scale indoor production which will further mark the opening of multi-purpose venue, Culture House, with a series of shows on September 26 and 27.

Tickets are available now for the production which has been devised by Southpaw Company, the innovative dance company based at Sheepfolds Stables.

Over the years, hundreds of North Easterners from all backgrounds have taken part in the award-winning company’s large-scale community performances often featuring projections, aerial work and latterly, digital immersion.

HOME will see participants perform alongside the company’s professional dancers – live on the building, in its windows and within immersive digital scenes.

It will tell the story of Lyra, a young woman born in Sunderland who achieves her dream of becoming an astronaut following encouragement by her late father to reach for the stars and ‘look up’.

In space on a bold adventure, she goes on a journey through Sunderland’s past, present and future meeting a few of Sunderland’s most famous sons and daughters along the way.

Robby Graham, Artistic Director at Southpaw, said: “HOME will bring together movement, music, projection and digital technology to tell a story of who we are, where we’ve come from and what we might become.

“It will be a beautiful way to celebrate the opening of such a wonderful building and we’re very excited that we’ve been chosen to be such a key part of the celebrations.”

Leanne Littlewood, Culture House Director, said: “This promises to be a spectacular event and we’re incredibly excited to be working with Southpaw.

“The company operates at the cutting edge of performance and technology, bringing together traditional artistic practice with transformative AR and VR experiences that elevate and enhance live performance.

Their work demonstrates the remarkable ways technology can deepen cultural experiences and open up new possibilities for audiences. We couldn’t think of a better way to mark the opening of Culture House.”

There are six public performances of HOME with numbers strictly limited for each performance to allow audiences to move around the building and experience the story of Sunderland throughout Culture House.

The 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.

Tickets priced £3 from: https://www.sunderlandculture.org.uk/whats-on/home/