Lancaster Arts announces a season of live arts events this autumn continuing their on-going theme of water, focussing on the environmental crisis we are facing.

The season opens with ‘Voice of the Whale’ on 23 September, a new piece from Manchester Collective who come to Lancaster for the first time. This is followed by the renowned Brodsky Quartet on 28 September.

The concert programme moves to the Lancaster Priory on 2 December as Lancaster Arts welcome the Echo Vocal Ensemble to The Priory for ‘Already Gone’. Part of this concert features newly commissioned pieces that respond to Alice Oswald’s Dunt: Poem for a Dried-Up River.

Responding to a poem also features in the exhibition, ‘Shifting Currents’, with specially written poetry by Costa Award winner, Mary Talbot. The exhibition opens on 26 October and will exhibit works from the collection by a range of artists including Norman Adams and Andy Goldsworthy and brings live dance on 4 November with Company Carpi: ‘When You Light a Candle, You Also Cast a Shadow’ which is a new dance work for gallery spaces featuring a trio of dancers and a live string quintet.

The Nuffield Theatre will feature a wide range of contrasting performances including a new sound installation, created by leo&hyde, ‘The Wind as it Rushes through the Turbine’, on 23 October, New Art Club’s joyful dance, theatre and comedy show ‘Cupid’s Revenge’ on 26 October and ‘The Vicked’ with stand-up comedian Tez Ilyas on 17 November.

There will be a Double Bill of Sea Change; two shows with new artists, Ergon Theatre’s immersive ‘The Wicked Problem’ on 09 November and Mandla Rae with ‘As British as a Watermelon’ on 12 November.

An audio work, which will be installed on campus, is entitled ‘Beacons’, an epic poem created by students in lockdown with the artist, David Boultbee. The three artists from the summer exhibition, New Perspectives, Garth Gratrix, Julia Heslop and Gavin Renshaw will offer opportunities to engage with their work on seeing the campus differently.

Alongside the performances expect more exciting work off campus! An installation entitled A Home for Grief by Fabiola Santana will take space in an empty shop in the city centre. Artist Layla Khoo will host workshops throughout the autumn that ask participants to explore the theme of belonging through the making of objects and will finish with an exhibition.

Director of Lancaster Arts Jocelyn Cunningham said: “Lancaster Arts is delighted to announce our Autumn 2021 season, full of music, laughter, and thought-provoking performances. We will continue with our Covid precautions, such as online booking only, socially distanced seating and one-way systems for the Great Hall.

“This time, we focus on the environmental crisis through theatre, music and art, all the more relevant with the upcoming COP26. Lancaster Arts will continue to add more exciting events, live on campus and in the city over the coming months so stay in touch or join our Mailing List to keep updated.”

Tickets for performances can be found at www.lancasterarts.org or by emailing boxoffice@lancasterarts.org All events will be socially distanced and take place in a Covid-secure environment.

For more details on these events and the entire season, visit www.lancasterarts.org