Sea Hames is the latest performance project from leading performance company Oceanallover. Inspired by Orkney’s ‘Festival of the Horse and Boys’ Ploughing Match’ this multi-disciplinary performance fuses sonic composition, compelling performance and intricate costume design to explore the mythology and iconography of the horse, the plough and the land.
As part of the ‘Festival of the Horse and Boys’ Ploughing Match’ celebrations Oceanallover will tour Orkney this August bringing their unique brand of site responsive performance to:
- Earl’s Palace, Kirkwall Thurs 17th Aug 1 – 1:45pm admission free but admission to Earls Palace required
- Scapa Flow Visitor Centre, Hoy Fri 18th Aug 12 – 12:45pm admission free
- St Margaret’s Hope Sat 19th August 1 – 1:45pm admission free
- Oceanallover workshop exploring movement and devising techniques at Gable End Theatre, Hoy Wed 16th August age 14+ bookings 01856 791312 admission free
‘Sea Hames’ is inspired directly by the sea and its relationship to the land, by this line or boundary between two worlds. The ‘Festival of the Horse and Boys’ Ploughing Match’ on Orkney is a tradition more than 200 years old on South Ronaldsay where children dress as Clydesdale horses alongside the patterns of straight lines made by ploughs in the sands along the shore.
Alex Rigg, Director of Oceanallover, was once a resident on Orkney and was inspired by these traditions and stories of local people in creating this performance. In 1984 two Clydesdale horses jumped the gate to their field and charged down to the beach at Billia Croo. This project begins with those two horses and their owner, Raimi Manson who was a renowned leather harness maker on the Island. Ocenallover’s creative team have lovingly restored Raimi’s Frobana leather-sewing machine to make a series of carnival inspired costumes that borrow from these equine traditions and will be exhibited during the performance. The production will also feature live music and a dynamic soundscape created by Raimi’s niece, the composer Sarah McFadyen and her husband Joey Sanderson who also used to reside on Orkney.
Oceanallover’s unique brand of theatre is performed in locations ranging from museums to sculpture parks and local high streets. Their performance interventions are designed to subvert and surprise, popping up in unusual locations to intrigue unwitting audiences.
The performances on Orkney will be a preview of a piece that will go on to be performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe during the last week of August as part of the prestigious Dance Base showcase programme.
Sea Hames Event Page on Facebook can be found here
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