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Commissions

Commissions

Where suitable opportunities or partnerships are present themselves or are created we aim to take our support for artists’ creative development a step further and support the commissioning of new work.

Current Commissions:

Rising Up: Peterloo 2019

In 1819, the concept of freedom of speech, protest and democracy were tested when armed soldiers charged at peaceful protestors in what is now known as the Peterloo Massacre. Two centuries on, these principles are still under threat. This new commission tells the personal stories of two women linked across time and through experience as they struggle to rise up and find their voice.

Written by Sean Cooney (The Young’uns) and Debs Newbold (King Lear Retold, Through The Seasons) with music from Sam Carter (False Lights), Lucy Farrell (Furrow Collective) and Jim Molyneux (4Square).

The performance will be coming to Cecil Sharp House on Thursday, 24 October 2019.

Perspectives on Tradition

For the first Perspectives residency, Ian Carter and Nicola Kearey (Stick In The Wheel, From Here Records) have invited Olugbenga Adelekan (Metronomy, Africa Express), Jon 1st (DMC DJ Champion, Fly High Society) and Nabihah Iqbal (Ninja Tune, NTS) to explore the national collection of folk arts at the EFDSS. Looking at notions of culture, tradition, collecting, cross-pollination and fragmentation of music, to bring some fresh perspectives to Cecil Sharp House.

Past commissions include:

Theatre Ballads (with PRS for Music Foundation) 2016-2017
Sweet Liberties (with Folk by the Oak and Houses of Parliament) 2015
Beyond The Marches / Dros y Ffin (with trac) 2015
Martin Simpson & Dom Flemons (with WOMAD) 2014
The Elizabethan Session (with Folk by the Oak) 2014
Folk Nations (with The British Council) 2013
The Full English 2013
The Cecil Sharp Project (with Shewsbury Folk Festival) 2011