Story Friday Goes Swimming
TWO DAYS IN MAY 2015
In May 2015 we took Story Fridays out and about to the Cleveland Pools in Bath with Story Fridays Goes Swimming. “A hugely successful event” (Bath Chronicle). “The atmosphere was electric and the captivating tales played beautifully to the intimate surroundings,” (Theatre Bath). “The stories were of an impressively high standard and all delivered with passion and a great measure of imagination,” (Theatre Bath). Our audience members said it was “magical” and “unique”. They said it was “Enjoyable. Friendly. Welcoming. Admired the writing and performing talent.” “Fun.”
“The interactive format was terrific.” We were delighted – fantastic stories, glorious setting, toe-tapping music and the sun shone.
To listen to the stories from Story Friday Goes Swimming click here.
Story Fridays in May was a Story Friday special at the Cleveland Pools in Bath – the only surviving Georgian lido in the country. Closed to swimmers since 1984, the Cleveland Pools are mysterious, hidden and enchanted.
A Word In Your Ear and Kilter Theatre took over the Pools on Saturday night the 16th May and Sunday afternoon the 17th May to create an atmospheric event combining site-specific stories and music.
Audiences were immersed in the world of swimming – flowery bathing hats, handsome lifeguards, the perfect dive. They listened to curious stories inspired by the Pools, which were intimately read to them in the changing rooms. There was live music to enjoy whilst having a picnic. The audience promenaded around the Pools as they listened to stories.
WRITER PERFORMERS were Elaine Miles, Tricia Wastvedt, Lisa Fryer, Julie Green, Christine Roberts, Clare Reddaway, Mark Rutterford and Stephanie Weston.
We had wonderful live music from SINK OR SWING and THE BRISTOL A CAPELLA GROUP’.
Full review from Petra Schofield in Theatre Bath:
May 18, 2015
Story Friday is a regular occasion produced by A Word in Your Ear and Kilter Theatre, the event is usually presented at Burdalls Yard on the LondonRoad where local writers celebrate and read their work. This weekend the ever inspiring team took their stories to the Cleveland Pools in Bath to present a selection of enquiring tales of love, loss and intrigue.
Hidden away in the snug changing rooms a team of writers and readers shared their work to small groups of promenading audience members.
The atmosphere was electric and the captivating tales played beautifully to the intimate surroundings alongside the disused pools; who says they can’t be haunted?
Alongside the storytelling the audience were entertained by Sink or Swim a musical duo and the Bristol A Capella Choir. This was a hugely successful event; the stories were of an impressively high standard and all delivered with passion and a great measure of imagination. It is hard to single out stories but The Housemaid by Claire Reddaway and Lisa Fryer’s The High Divers Son read by Philip Perry were particularly thought provoking.
The Cleveland Pools Trust are currently engaging groups to use their unique location in its Bicentennial year as it heads towards the prospect of reopening to the public. The site was well managed by the many volunteers and the sun shone beautifully, an undisputed seal of approval on the use of the site and the inspiration it has given to the excellent local authors who were hiding in its shadows.
Petra Schofield
This event was part of the bicentennial celebrations at the Cleveland Pools. The Trust that runs the Pools has received Lottery funding to restore them to their former glory. Please support them in any way you can.
We would like to thank The Cleveland Pools Trust for all of their help and support in the putting on of this event. To find out more about the Cleveland Pools and to support their fundraising activities click here.
The stories from Story Fridays Goes Swimming went ‘on tour’ as part of Fringe Arts ‘To Bathe’ exhibition, curated by Chloe Scholefield. The stories played in Chloe’s wonderful stripy bathing hut and perambulated around Bath in the sunshine, delighting all who listened.
