You’re invited to take some time out of the busy day to stop, listen and reflect at the Grosvenor Shopping Centre in Northampton. We’re excited to be bringing our pop-up of Seedling and Cub, featuring two audio installations that consider climate change and belonging, and to ask ourselves 'How do we live with hope?’.
It’s completely free to come and enjoy, so pop into the Gatherings Space (found upstairs in the Upper Mall opposite the Entertainer) between 5th-14th April 2024!
Opening Times:
Monday to Saturday - 10am - 3pm
Sundays - 11am - 3pm
More about each audio piece:
Cub (2024)
A storm is coming and the waters are rising. What will happen to the home where Kit, Mum and Nai Nai live? What about the fox and her cubs?
Climb inside our den for an exciting story about how big our families really are.
Cub is an exciting brand new audio piece we’ve co-created with Years 3 and 4 at Cottesmore Academy, Rutland. Through this new companion piece to Seedling, we’ve captured an array of voices on how young people are feeling about the future of our planet in the midst of the climate crisis, as well as explore and amplify their stories of multicultural family heritage. Cub has been designed for ages 7-12 so bring along the wee ones to listen.
Seedling (2021)
How do we live with hope?
Seeking to provoke conversation around motherhood and the environment and how this connects to our geographical and cultural heritage, as well as our family legacies, Seedling was developed by Northampton artist Helen Crevel.
The piece was inspired by conversations with pairs of mothers and daughters about the decision to have children or not, all within the context of the environmental crisis and the potential to re-imagine a brighter future.
It had its first outing here at the Grosvenor Centre in 2021 in the UK and then ventured over to Budapest for its European premiere as part of CSET Fest in 2023. It’s now back in 2024, but this time with company, as we knew that when we next brought Seedling back, it would go alongside a companion piece for and by younger audiences - and so Cub was born.
There’ll be a digital programme you’ll be able to access at the installation but to find our more about the project and who’s involved head to our website: www.carbontheatre.org.uk/seedling
There’ll be a few reflective interactive activities you’re welcome to delve into, like our collaborative loom where you can weave in your reflections on the audio pieces you've just experienced and any hopes for the future. The installation features a textile patchwork dome made up of textile ‘patches of home’ created by local groups in Northampton, Corby & Kettering exploring family/local stories. The inside will be more like a relaxing domestic space, like stepping into someone’s home.
So come along into our patchwork home and have a listen to these 15 minute stories and afterwards, once you leave the dome, we'd love you to stay with us in the unit to relax, reflect and have a chat.
Access: the installation will be made accessible, with a BSL video version and a written version on site and available digitally, audio description, social story and companion pack materials available and will have wheelchair access.
Seedling and Cub supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Our textile sessions are supported by the National Lottery Community Fund & Constance Travis Community Endowment Fund (Northamptonshire Community Foundation).
Photo credit : Maksim Podorozkin
