WORDS FOR THE LIVING, 2021
Live Performance | Beth Derbyshire | WERK
Words for the Living is a live performance in which an individual speaker, communicates a series of words and phrases through a megaphone in public space. The words are commemorative excerpts by loved ones for so many of the key workers who have tragically passed away from Covid 19. The poignant and celebratory recital of words is a living memorial, describing the qualities of these incredible people who lost their lives whilst saving others and is intended to pay homage to loss, whilst inspiring the living through their bravery. The performance will be filmed and presented in the digital space of Into the Parade.
Into the Parade is an online web encounter and live project that explores how arts organisation and practitioners across the Midlands are engaging civically. The digital ‘Civic Centre’ is both tangible and metaphorical concept to explore the role of cultural practice in a civic context. Into the Parade is a cultural intervention that undertakes projects that have online and real-world anchors points and has been initiated by Beth Derbyshire and developed with students from the MA Arts and Project Management course at Birmingham City University.
BETH DERBYSHIRE
MESSAGE, 2005
Message was a performance on Remembrance Sunday 2005 in which war veterans used semaphore to send a silent and poignant message along the River Thames to Horseguard’s Parade. On arrival, the message was decrypted at Whitehall and laid on a wreath at the Cenotaph. Message the project was a performance that embraced the subject of war and remembrance. Their image in the city during the performance was captured in newspapers and on television so inscribing them and the project’s subject into the very fabric of the city.
Message was a performance on Remembrance Sunday 2005 in which war veterans used semaphore to send a silent and poignant message along the River Thames to Horseguard’s Parade. On arrival, the message was decrypted at Whitehall and laid on a wreath at the Cenotaph. The project was a performance that embraced the subject of war and remembrance. Their image in the city during the performance was captured in newspapers and on television, so inscribing them and the project’s subject into the very fabric of the city. “Message’ the project took many forms and had multiple partners. This book, published by Thames & Hudson, reflects their participation and the scale of the project. A second exhibition – ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’ – was part of the Platform for Art programme at Piccadilly Circus.
• The project inspired good will/enthusiasm gaining partnerships/visibility as it grew.
• Delivery across innovative platforms.
• It was an active act of remembrance using semaphore, a military language usually used for naval engagement
• Created social/political legacies uniting generations through themes ofremembrance and sacrifice.
• Broadcast to millions gave the participants/partners international visibility.
• Message gave its audiences a unique memory, allowing people to consider their own responses to war, changing the lives of those directly involved and those who saw it.
• The project impacted upon the veterans as they shared experiences, cementing ongoing relationships.
• Enabled retired participants to use their skills again, recognising their expertise nationally.
25 partners in the work; involvement of approximately 100 people in the delivery of the project. Project developed with members of veteran and retired communities, the military, the police and art professionals. Event, film and exhibition. Audience reached approx 4 million +.