Tickets now on sale for climbing concert, GIANT, premiering a new tree song ‘Epping’ written by Robert Macfarlane with music by Oliver Weeks, within an hour-long programme of tree-inspired music and poetry that includes a reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s The Selfish Giant, the classic short story about a giant banning children from playing in his garden, and works by Epping Forest poet John Clare, Benjamin Zephaniah, Grace Nichols and Handel.
The two concerts will take place at Barn Hoppitt in Epping Forest on Friday 18 October and Saturday 19 October at 7.30pm.
Developed by Arts and Gardens, climbing concerts aim to connect children with parks and forest environments in a creative way. The theatrical concert will feature guest soloists, supported by a chorus from the London Forest Choir and Tottenham Community Choir. Thirty-five children from Waltham Forest schools will accompany the choirs, including students from St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, St Mary’s C of E Primary School, Selwyn Primary School and Longshaw Primary Academy School.
Robert Macfarlane, writer of Underland (2019) and The Lost Words (2017), will premiere his new tree song ‘Epping’ with music by British composer, Oliver Weeks, whose works include Cat Sticks (2019) and Rising Silence (2019).
Robert Macfarlane said: “Children singing from the trees alongside the birds, a forest canopy filled with music, the audience watching from the woodland floor: this has been a very special project to be involved with, and I’ve loved both the vision of the idea of a ‘climbing concert’ and the collaboration with the other dramatists, performers and musicians involved. I can’t wait to see the event take final flight in Epping Forest early this autumn.”
Ruth Oakley, Director, Arts and Gardens, said: “The idea of a ‘climbing concert’ is about children reclaiming a foothold between branches and a sense of big possibilities from being outdoors and up high; broadcasting their experience to the forest through music. It is a total joy watching children scale a forty-foot tree for their first time. It’s also about introducing the name of the tree, learning to trust it, having an exchange with it and, best of all, singing from it.”
GIANT will be composed by Oliver Weeks, directed by David Antrobus, designed by Samantha Dowson, with music direction by Tom Appleton and movement direction by Beatrice Perini
Sohini Alam and Elenor Bowers-Jolley will feature as guest sopranos, with music performed by Anisa Arslanagic, Ben Heartland and Oliver Weeks.
Arts and Gardens will also offer singing and climbing workshops to the general public in September. Ticket holders can attend a one-hour session where music leaders will teach a group song, and learn to climb with expert instructors from The Great Big Tree Climbing Company, before combining the two to sing from the treetops
Daytime climbing and music sessions are also available to the public for ages 8+ on Sunday 15 and Sunday 29 September offering people the opportunity to experience what it is like to be part of GIANT.
GIANT is part of a collection of children’s activities in the autumn as part of Waltham Forest London Borough of Culture.
