Artists in East Dorset are creating small underground installations or shrines reflecting the theme of loss, as part of Wimborne Community Theatre’s latest site-specific show, The Great Rinsing.

The shrines, made by Hazel Evans, Caroline Parrott, Alison Board and Olivia Keith, will be positioned in the passageways beneath Wimborne’s Pump House, a Victorian industrial building, owned by Sembcorp Bournemouth Water

The Great Rinsing has been designed by theatre designer, Pip Nash, working with students studying Costume for Performance at Arts University College Bournemouth, supported by education officer, Caroline Parrott, at Walford Mill Crafts where community workshops have been held.

Pip Nash says: In response to the mysterious pipes and hidden corners of the Pump House basement, we thought about the things we lose in life and where they may be washed up, from odd socks and keys, to things of real value like relationships. Water, or the lack of it has taken on an ominous presence in the piece and the idea is that the installations show us what we have let get washed away, almost by our own negligence. The water is a metaphor for our neglect. The installations are a visual reminder of this.

 Sound and film artists, Adrian Newton, Rob Hart and Daniel Horitz have been commissioned by Wimborne Community Theatre to create sound and film installations responding the building, and ideas reflected by The Great Rinsing. Now in their twenties, Rob and Daniel took part in WCT’s first shows nearly twenty years ago, and now return to make work of their own.

The story of The Great Rinsing, written by Jonathan Petherbridge, evolved from Wimborne Community Theatre’s creative research and devising over two years. 

Set in a future where water is a sought after luxury, two children search the chasms and passageways of a derelict museum of water to quench their thirst, and the audience travels with them to hear ancient stories and memories contained within water.

July 1, 2, 7, 8, 9.  Box Office: 01202 888992

ENDS

Background and Contacts

Wimborne Community Theatre celebrates twenty years of making site-specific theatre in East Dorset.

WCT is a group of East Dorset residents from 12 – 86 years.  It has created 19 productions since 1991, all in outdoor and non-theatre buildings. 

This year, a grant from Arts Council England allowed WCT to invite Jonathan Petherbridge, director of London Bubble Theatre Company, to work with the group over the last year and to devise and direct the shows.

Other funding: Activate

Schools involved: Allenbourn School; Oakmead College of Technology;

Queen Elizabeth’s School, Wimborne

Artists:

Co-director: Tony Horitz; Musical Director: Karen Wimhurst; Movement Director: Lee Hart;

Contacts:

Wimborne Community Theatre:

Gill Horitz: WCT – Producer; O1202 882740  gill.horitz@talk21.com

For more information:

• To read story of the project’s development:   http://wimpp.blogspot.com/
• To see images and information out about previous projects: www.lhi.org.uk (South      West) and  www.wct@edht.org.uk 
• www.stateofplayarts.co.uk  select community groups

Jonathan Petherbridge: peth49@btopenworld.com www.londonbubble.org.uk.

Sembcorp Bournemouth Water www.sembcorpbw.co.uk