https://superculture.org.uk/arts-health-festival/
The piece centres on NHS workers talking about water, ‘how they use it at work or enjoy it for leisure – or maybe have wonderful childhood memories of places bear water which are dear to them – it’s a story of the power of water in our lives – how we need it, celebrate it and, if we want to survive, how we must look after it’ – Deborah Paige the project leader and director. Deborah recalls an ‘extraordinary two days’ listening to the workers’ stories at Weston hospital’s Rafters Restaurant, where people would tell the team ‘I haven’t really got anything to say’ and then talk for ten minutes or more as thoughts flowed into new memories and ideas. The piece features around twenty practitioners and support staff, including Radiographers, Paramedics, A&E Speciality Registrars, a Geriatrics Consultant, a Trainee Nurse Associate and a Theatre Support Worker. Deborah notes that ‘it was a real eye opener for me finding out how many roles and jobs were represented. Like many workplaces, the hospital is peopled by jobs most of us never knew existed – not to mention how many different colours of uniforms there were!’

Deborah worked with composer and musician Harry Bassett to compile stories and soundbites into the music, much of which he wrote specifically for the performance. Harry explains that the NHS workers words ‘form their own part of the music’, swirling through a score which ebbs and flows ‘to moments of joy and celebration, but also moments of reflection and tranquillity’. He describes a truly collaborative and intuitive co-production process where each element of the performance influences all the others. The soundtrack will be brought to life by a community of dancers and swimmers performing in and out of the Marine Lake. The cast includes members of the recently formed Super Synchro group, NHS workers, and anyone else brave enough to take the plunge! Here again, the project champions diversity, inclusivity and togetherness, welcoming D/deaf, disabled and non-disabled performers equally.

Choreographer Claire Hodgson explains ‘It’s an opportunity for all the community to take part’, ‘to meet people of all abilities and ages’, ‘to be together in Weston and create a community show for everyone’. Over thirty community members have been rehearsing every Monday in September and everyone agrees it is coming along swimmingly…
Collaborators include Jamie Beddard (co-artistic director of Diverse City) and Dave Young (a performance poet and artist who is known as the Shouting Mute).