ON THE WAY was made up of 3 distinct events; Skathow, Trencrom and Lightly Sea Salted. They took place during April and May 2024 in distinct locations along the route of St Michael’s Way, which runs from Hayle Estuary on the north coast of Penwith to Penzance and Marazion in Mounts Bay. Each event engaged invited communities with distinctive landscapes through song, dance and visual art. The events created memorable experiences that celebrate the lives, stories, and knowledge of the participants, as well as the landscapes in which they were created. Each project involved sharing and exchanging gifts of stories and food; recognising Cornwall’s history of hospitality and welcoming strangers
SKATHOW was inspired by tales of Celtic pilgrims from Ireland who, en route to the continent, carried their boats across the neck of land between Hayle Estuary and Mounts Bay to avoid the perilous journey around Land’s End. Children from Marazion and Penpol schools created small boats, Skathow, that carry representations of what they consider most precious in their lives. They met for the first time on the beach at Marazion to exchange their boats and their cargos with each other through a devised movement piece. Skathow was part one of this three-part project.
Lead Artists: John Keys Alessandra Ausenda & Rob Mennear
Film Neal Megaw
TRACK: RISE AND SHINE BY DALLA
TRENCROM
Participants from Drym Valley Centre visited Trencrom Hill with Tough Dough visual artists Alessandra Ausenda, John Keys and musician Vicky Abbott.
They walked and sang together, in the woods, and on top of the hill. A joyful, celebratory event in a magical place.
Together they explored a beech woodland and experienced new life springing up all around them. They climbed the steep path to the top of Trencrom and took in big sky and wide horizons of the north and south coasts of West Penwith and the great granite outcrops of this wonderful heritage site.
They returned to the site with flags, banners and songs they had created from their sensory experience.
‘Being in the woods I felt so calm and it was all about new life beginning again’
‘I feel I could fly from up here, it is like being on top of the world!’
Up Top
Up top
It’s alright
It’s so windy
Middle of nowhere
At the edge
At sea
I feel Wide awake
Clothes flapping in the breeze
We feel alive up top, up top
Oh yeah We feel alive up top, up top
Deep in the woods
What can you see?
What can you hear?
Deep in the woods
There are bluebells all around
And magic as far as you can see
There are bluebells all around
And magic as far as you can see
We feel grounded and calm
As the wind is rustling the leaves
We feel grounded and calm
As the wind is rustling the leaves
Lead Artists: John Keys, Alessandra Ausenda & Vicky Abbott
Film: Neal Megaw
TRACK: FLY CELLAR UNITY HEVA CORNISHE BY DALLA
On the Way, Trencrom is part of the Hello Stranger project led by Wildworks and is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. #wildworkshellostranger #wildworksweareshining #wildworkstheatre
LIGHTLY SEA SALTED was a movement-based performance on the beach and in the sea at Battery Rocks, Penzance. Working with dance choreographer Kyra Norman, an established community of friends who meet and sea swim regularly explored their experiences and motivations for swimming together, sharing food and conversation on the rocks. Lightly Sea Salted Skathow was part two of this three-part project.
Lead Artists: John Keys, Alessandra Ausenda & Kyra Norman
Film Neal Megaw
TRACK: Battery Rock BY Barnaby Taylor
TRENCROM was a collaboration with Musical Director Vicky Abbott and 12 participants from Drym Valley Centre, a unique rural activity resource that provides the opportunity for adults with additional needs to enjoy a lively and beneficial rural experience. The participants responded to the landscape around Trencrom Hill through sound, movement, and visual art.
Lead Artists: John Keys, Alessandra Ausenda & Vicky Abbott
Film Neal Megaw
TRACK: FLY CELLAR UNITY HEVA CORNISHE BY DALLA
