“Sabrina and the Engineer” Severn River Project 2008
Devised and produced collaboratively by Avanti Display and PaBoom.
Community involvement developed by Emergency Exit Arts.
Original music composed by Seaming To.
Community singing arranged and organised by Shirley Pegna.
“Sabrina and the Engineer” a theatrical event that explores the coming together of the elemental force of the river and the productive power of the industrial revolution.
Historically the River Severn has been an important conduit of communication and commerce for the people of Western England and Wales. With the development of industrialisation the waters of the Severn became an important elemental resource in the industrial process.
Dramatically these ideas are characterised in our theatrical performance by the marriage of the spirit of the river, the Goddess Sabrina, to the engineer Mr Ferrous. The engineer, Mr Ferrous, an ambitious industrialist, woos Sabrina, the Goddess of the River intending that he will then employ the dowry she brings with her, the Severn, harnessing its natural power to do the work demanded by the engines of the industrial age.
This show was designed to respond to the location of the performance.
We will employ a number of (a multiple) of theatrical forms, techniques and textures to create a spectacular show that will celebrate a significant period of the history of this community.
Drawing on a process of research, interpretation and theatrical invention, this spectacular show will
develop a number of characters, including:
Music played an important role in this performance. Sabrina and Mr Ferrous played by trained singers of the highest quality.
Including choral voices of a Welsh male voice choir.
Community involvement played a central role, in the procession of the Groom, Mr. Ferrous, and also in attendance to Sabrina. We will drew on local artists to develop our ideas.
