Lone Twin — Town Crying
Performance art group Lone Twin is renowned internationally for creating performances through making journeys and explorations into places. In Town Crying, it will collaborate with Alnwick's award–winning town crier to create a unique series of proclamations that tell stories of places, events and communities back to the people of the North East England.
The script performed at each location will be developed from conversations and chance encounters between the artists and people who live, shop, work or visit there.
Combining stories, ideas and opinions, these personal, anecdotal and often humorous commentaries promise to make us all think about the aspirations we have for our lives and the places in which we live.
On 20 October, a special Town Crying performance takes place in and around the Dott 07 Festival site. Town crier John Stevens cries all of the seven scripts performed in locations across the North East during July 2007.
Also on 20 October, at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Lone Twin (Gregg Whelan & Gary Winters) tells the story of the making of the Town Crying project, showing footage of the performances. A book launch follows the talk with a signing by the artists and town crier, John Stevens. All attendees of the talk can take away a free copy of the publication, which documents the project and features all scripts performed, as well as photos of the cries and an interview with the artists.
Town Crying is part of Vital Signs. These projects are produced by Forma and commissioned by Dott 07 (Designs of the time 2007), a year of community projects, events and exhibitions based in North East England that explore what life in sustainable region could be like – and how design can help us get there.
Vital Signs forms part of North East England's world class festivals and events programme.
Town Crying public performances across North East England
19 Jul 07 | Starts Old Eldon Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, 16:00 – 20:00
20 Jul 07 | Metro Tour, starts West Jesmond Metro, 14:00 – 18:00
22 Jul 07 | Teesdale Food and Craft Festival, Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, 12:00 – 16:00
26 Jul 07 | Starts Alnwick Castle, 16:00 – 20:00
27 Jul 07 | Starts Old City Wall, Stowell Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, 18:00 – 22:00
28 Jul 07 | Starts Tynemouth Market, 10:00 – 14:00
28 Jul 07 | Starts Gateshead Quays, 18:00 – 22:00
29 Jul 07 | Hexham Car Boot Sale, Tyne Green, Hexham, 12:00 – 16:00
Town Crying at Dott 07 Festival
16 – 28 Oct 07 | Town Crying exhibition | Dott 07 Festival, Gateshead Quays, UK
20 Oct 07 | Live performance, 11:00–15:00 | Dott 07 Festival, Gateshead Quays, UK
20 Oct 07 | Artists’ talk & book launch, 15:00–16:30 | Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Level 1
Gateshead Quays, UK
Produced by Forma
Commissioned by Dott 07
Funded by Design Council and One North East
North East England's programme of world-class festivals and events is supported by: Arts Council England, Gateshead Council, Newcastle City Council, North Rock Foundation, One Northeast, TyneWear Partnership
Photos: Mark Pinder
Town Crying publication
Lone Twin – Town Crying [book]
