A response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the ‘Outside the Box’ project involved the identification of public spaces that might safely be used for open-air performance, aligned with the environmental aspiration to “Build Back Better” in the cultural recovery. A new display at the University explores the project.
From May to July, the University of Exeter’s Queen’s Building display space hosts ‘Outside the Box’, a new showcase of a University of Exeter project exploring open-air performance as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
On display is a fascinating visual documentation of the project initiated jointly by the University of Exeter’s Drama Department and Business School in partnership with Exeter Culture.
A response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the ‘Outside the Box’ project involved the identification of public spaces that might safely be used for open-air performance, aligned with the environmental aspiration to “Build Back Better” in the cultural recovery.
Six outdoor performances were subsequently commissioned around Exeter, which took place in these lower risk, environmentally-sensitive open air settings and contributed to the revival of live performance cultures. They modelled possibilities for sustainable cultural practice and demonstrated its potential to contribute to cultural and environmental wellbeing. As the country opened up a little, the artists found ways for audiences to meet safely with each other, and with place.
Amongst the commissions were a walking performance through central Exeter inspired by the custom of telling troubles to the bees, canoes following musical swans down the river Exe and musicians responding to the sounds of the landscape.
“As we weather the protracted crises of the pandemic and climate change, these performance works exemplify the powerful necessity of culture for enabling human connection and cultivating more considerate relationships with the natural world.”
Evaluation of these performances provided more understanding about the benefits to participants and audiences, identified innovative approaches to creating outdoor performance and highlighted the need for flexible and creative responses from local authorities to help make them happen.
"Outside the Box is a fantastic example of how research at the University of Exeter responds directly to our time and place. With so many pressing social and environmental issues swirling around us, the performing arts provide a vital means of focusing our thinking and opening up new understandings. This display will introduce ‘Outside the Box’ to even more audiences and hopefully encourage more people to engage with the research and future live open air performances."
__The display, Outside the Box: Open-Air Performance as a Pandemic Response, opens is now open and will continue until Friday 22 July 2022. It will be open Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm except bank holidays, in the Queen’s Display Space, Lower Foyer, Queen’s Building, University of Exeter, The Queen’s Drive, Exeter, EX4 4QH. Entry is free and all are welcome. __
University of Exeter
Room 153, Queen's Building
The Queen's Drive
Exeter EX4 4QH
