You Are Here by Restoke at The Wedgwood Institute, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent - Stories of Migration, Culture and Belonging | Documentary Photography by Jenny Harper
3 minute read
You Are Here
I’ve been photographing Restoke’s creation of their ‘You Are Here’ performance from initial ideas through to rehearsals and now that the final performance is coming together and so close to opening night, it looks incredible.
We’ve spent research days in the wonderful Wedgwood Institute building, where the performance will take place. The Wedgwood Institute is in a state of transition as the downstairs rooms have started renovation, but we get to enjoy the upstairs with it’s cracks, dust and hidden surprises. It’s brilliant to photograph there. There’s interesting spaces of light and dark, a grand staircase leading to an impressive double height ballroom and the ceramic features outside and inside the building firmly secure it to the history of Stoke-on-Trent.
Spending rehearsal days with the Restoke team is always an inspiring experience. They have amazing musicians who are able to just instantly play at a requested rhythm like they’ve been rehearsing for days, providing live music for any dancing or singing that the group want to explore. They have talented dancers who improvise beautiful movement that is a pleasure to photograph. Even the warm-ups look great! When I heard some of the ideas for the challenging set and costume design, I knew this was going to be a very special show.
Ultimately, ‘You Are Here’ is an incredibly moving performance about people and their stories, told by the people those stories are about. It’s a celebration of humans of the world coming together, through different journeys. It’s reminded me that we share more in common than what separates us and we’re all looking for a sense of belonging and home. If I’m able to watch it with dry eyes, that would be a first! I’d love everyone I know to see it. It's going to be amazing.
You Are Here will be performed next week, from the 5th to 8th October. Tickets are available here - http://www.newvictheatre.org.uk/productions/you-are-here/.
Here are just a few of my favourite photographs from the journey so far:-
You Are Here will be performed next week, from the 5th to 8th October. Tickets are available here - http://www.newvictheatre.org.uk/productions/you-are-here/.