Compass Festival 2014, the countdown begins

 [Image: If You Go Away, Invisible Flock]

 

We are excited to hear that Compass Festival is back for its second year and it looks like the 2014 programme is set to showcase even more ground-breaking work by local and international live artists. The festival promises to bring a collection of 20 extraordinary performances, installations and artworks to unusual venues across Leeds, over 11 days from 13th to 23rd November.

Presented by Compass Live Art Ltd and East Street Arts’ Karen Watson, Compass Festival supports artists whose work challenges conventions of theatre, performance and exhibition, defying categorisation and seeking to captivate new audiences. There are already some weird and wonderful events and installations that catch our eye here at TSOTA, and following the announcement of the full artist programme, we thought we’d bring you the low down on what to expect. Plus – all but 2 of the events are free!

 

• Kicking off the festival is the world premiere of Negative Space: a complex and intriguing performance by internationally acclaimed, experimental theatre company Reckless Sleepers.
  13th – 14th November @ 7.30pm. Stage@Leeds, Leeds University
  (£12/£9 conc.)

 

• Father & son duo Kings of England will premiere Where We Live and What We Live For, Part 2. Following the award-winning part 1 which received a sell-out revival at Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year, this piece has been specially commissioned for Compass. Exploring the closeness and distance between generations and followed by music and food… always a bonus!
  22nd November @ 8pm. West Yorkshire Playhouse
  (£8/£6)

 

• One of our favourite art collectives, Leeds’ own Invisible Flock will be launching the first release of If You Go Away, a location-based experience. Chapter 1 of this project is delivered via an app (which you can download to your smart phone/tablet) and invites audiences to get lost within a fictional world which unfolds as you explore the physical geography of Leeds.
  19th – 23rd November. Everyman Cinema
  FREE

            Watch the trailer below…

 

 

• Immerse yourself in the critically-acclaimed We See Fireworks by Helen Cole, a sound and light installation made from hundreds of voices which will unfold in the darkness at Gallery Munro House. Collecting Fireworks will be running alongside this, to allow audience members to donate their treasured memories which may be used in future incarnations of the installation.
  14th – 23rd November. Gallery Munro House
  FREE

 

• Selected as 1 of 6 artists that were chosen from 170 entries earlier in the year, Leeds-based artist Selina Thompson will be running Pat it, Prick it and Mark it with a B at Leeds’ Corn Exchange. Inspired by her emotional relationship with food, the event will be playful, intimate and most importantly, participatory! Selina will make a dress out of cake, indulging in the ultimate bake-off and will invite the audience to join in…and help her eat it!
  21st – 22nd November @ 10am – 5pm. Corn Exchange
  FREE

 

Pat it, Prick it and Mark it with a B, Selina Thompson

 

Other things to watch out for…

American-born but London-based Brian Lobel uses words of Carrie Bradshaw (Sex in the City) to present You Have To Forgive Me, You Have To Forgive Me, You Have To Forgive Me. Park relationship clinic, part TV binge-watching….
22nd November @ 10am – 7pm. 42 New Briggate.
FREE

Various city-centre projects to include Imagine Us with Sylvia Rimat, taking people watching to a new level (Merrion Centre), Personal Shopper, a personal shopping experience with a difference (Kirkgate Market) and Dancing With Strangers, in the street at City Square – a series of duets with elderly residents from a care home in Leeds with Portuguese director Rita Marcalo.

The full programme is available online and promises to offer a selection of world-class performance makers and emerging artists. Events will be supported with a series of artist talks and workshops.

“The festival offers audiences the chance to marvel, interact, enjoy and celebrate the power of the imagination of artists from all over the country, alongside local talent. What I want most of all from Compass 2014 is for people, whoever they are, to feel welcome, informed and excited enough to try something new and be inspired by the extraordinary creativity and ideas on show.” Compass Festival’s Artistic Director, Annie Lloyd.

Visit compassliveart.org.uk to view the full programme of events

Follow @CompassLiveArt