Salford Quays Under Fire
Slung Low and The Lowry co-production
Beyond the Front Line
The Lowry, Tue 6 – Sat 17 October 2009
Press Night: Thu 8 October, 7.30pm drinks reception for 8.15pm
This October, The Lowry will be the scene of one of the most ambitious projects since its opening in 2000. Beyond the Front Line is a military epic featuring a cast of over 200 who will occupy Salford Quays in this outdoor production, which runs for two weeks.
Large-scale is somewhat of an understatement. Beyond the Front Line involves the Slung Low company of 18, a chorus of 225 students from the University of Salford, 1 female composer, a 15 minute, 5 part mass sang by 15 choristers and 1 violin-playing soprano. The costumes include 80 helmets, 40 Goretex jackets and 42 guns. The production will take place in 4 Bedford trucks and 2 tents, requiring 16 hospital beds and 80 headphones audience use over 36 performances, with 1 giant explosion. All this amounts to one captivating production.
Beyond the Front Line is the latest production from Slung Low, co-produced with The Lowry, a hard-hitting outdoor performance examining the complex relationship between the civilian population and the armed forces.
As an elegiac tribute to the fallen soldiers, Slung Low has commissioned composer Heather Fenoughty to write a new requiem. A five part mass sung in Latin and recorded by the Wakefield Community Gospel Choir, the lament has live accompaniment by soprano and violinist Rosalind Hind.
Robert Robson, Artistic Director of The Lowry said “When I first saw Slung Low I was blown away by the energy and imagination of their work, making it a personal ambition to showcase one of their productions at The Lowry. Beyond the Front Line offers us an opportunity to work in collaboration with one of the most groundbreaking theatre companies in the UK today, developing our own distinctive
Beyond the Front Line, is part of The Lowry’s commitment to generating new work is generously funded by Arts Council England Grants for the Arts.
The Lowry Centre Trust is a not-for-profit charitable organisation and registered charity (no. 1053962). All income supports our world-class Theatres and Galleries programme, the care and display of the LS Lowry Collection and our life-changing Community and Education work.
Posted on Friday, 02 October 2009 under Press Theatre Press