2007
September - December
Fingerprint
A music-theatre piece, directed by Emma Bernard, designed by Katrina Lindsay, lit by Peter Harrison, video projection by The Gray Circle, UK tour. A piece about identity and individualism - the strap line was Kruschev’s ‘We must, once and for all, abolish the cult of the individual’. Set in a school, it began with Jeremy Avis performing a duet with himself, singing and playing a hindewhu (a pygmy one-note flute); and ended with a chorus of fifty or sixty on stage, as The Shout was joined by a crowd of amateur singers. In between: a Purple Haze lesson, a DNA lesson, a bhangra version of Jerusalem, an exam in which the singers make their test papers into origami birds, a dance lesson in which the singers sing the music to which they dance, a riot, a drunken half-remembered cheesy pop song……..
Fingerprint
A music-theatre piece, directed by Emma Bernard, designed by Katrina Lindsay, lit by Peter Harrison, video projection by The Gray Circle, UK tour. A piece about identity and individualism - the strap line was Kruschev’s ‘We must, once and for all, abolish the cult of the individual’. Set in a school, it began with Jeremy Avis performing a duet with himself, singing and playing a hindewhu (a pygmy one-note flute); and ended with a chorus of fifty or sixty on stage, as The Shout was joined by a crowd of amateur singers. In between: a Purple Haze lesson, a DNA lesson, a bhangra version of Jerusalem, an exam in which the singers make their test papers into origami birds, a dance lesson in which the singers sing the music to which they dance, a riot, a drunken half-remembered cheesy pop song……..
July
Critical Mass
A music-theatre piece, directed by Emma Bernard, designed by Naomi Wilkinson, lit by Anna Watson, Almeida Opera Festival, London. A collaboration with the marvellous Streetwise Opera. Political speeches and folk songs – the world as politicians would like it to be, and the world as it is.
Critical Mass
A music-theatre piece, directed by Emma Bernard, designed by Naomi Wilkinson, lit by Anna Watson, Almeida Opera Festival, London. A collaboration with the marvellous Streetwise Opera. Political speeches and folk songs – the world as politicians would like it to be, and the world as it is.
June
Singing River
Choral event, directed by Tom Ryser, River Thames, London. London version of the Stuttgart event, very different in fact (very different river), for the re-opening of the Royal Festival Hall. Six choirs – The London Bulgarian Choir, Maspindzeli, The London Gay Men’s Chorus, Raise The Roof, Velvet Fist, British Gospel Arts – came up river from Tower Bridge on a gigantic pontoon, singing folk songs, before taking part in a choral engagement with a large chorus on the fifth floor balcony of the Festival Hall, while megaphonistas sung from the banks of the river and the bridges.
Singing River
Choral event, directed by Tom Ryser, River Thames, London. London version of the Stuttgart event, very different in fact (very different river), for the re-opening of the Royal Festival Hall. Six choirs – The London Bulgarian Choir, Maspindzeli, The London Gay Men’s Chorus, Raise The Roof, Velvet Fist, British Gospel Arts – came up river from Tower Bridge on a gigantic pontoon, singing folk songs, before taking part in a choral engagement with a large chorus on the fifth floor balcony of the Festival Hall, while megaphonistas sung from the banks of the river and the bridges.
May
Guest performance, Henry Moore Foundation, Perry Green.
Guest performance, Henry Moore Foundation, Perry Green.
March
Concert, Wroclaw, Poland.
Concert, Wroclaw, Poland.
January
Swarm
A site-specific choral piece, directed by Emma Bernard, Barbican, London 100 singers marauding through the foyer of the Barbican Centre. A piece about the wisdom, and the madness, of crowds. Part of the BBC Symphony Orchestra Sofia Gubaidulina weekend.
Swarm
A site-specific choral piece, directed by Emma Bernard, Barbican, London 100 singers marauding through the foyer of the Barbican Centre. A piece about the wisdom, and the madness, of crowds. Part of the BBC Symphony Orchestra Sofia Gubaidulina weekend.
January
Candle
Newcastle Playhouse, Newcastle Our contribution to Holocaust Memorial Day – The Shout, a chorus of singing animateurs and a children’s chorus (some of them awaiting deportation) in a setting of Hamra Night by the Iraqi writer Sa’di Yusuf.
Candle
Newcastle Playhouse, Newcastle Our contribution to Holocaust Memorial Day – The Shout, a chorus of singing animateurs and a children’s chorus (some of them awaiting deportation) in a setting of Hamra Night by the Iraqi writer Sa’di Yusuf.
2006
December
Day in the Life. Three performances commissioned by De La Warr Pavilion, working with 120 local singers (adults and young people), we performed our multi-cultural "Christmas" show.
Day in the Life. Three performances commissioned by De La Warr Pavilion, working with 120 local singers (adults and young people), we performed our multi-cultural "Christmas" show.
October
Stand Tour A Concert Tour around the U.K. collating songs about protest from the choir's repertoire.
Stand Tour A Concert Tour around the U.K. collating songs about protest from the choir's repertoire.
August
Road to Nowhere A follow-up to Stand, commissioned for the Mayor of London Festival and performed in Trafalgar Square. Road to Nowhere relived the Jarrow March of 1936 and the protesters' long walk from Newcastle to London
Road to Nowhere A follow-up to Stand, commissioned for the Mayor of London Festival and performed in Trafalgar Square. Road to Nowhere relived the Jarrow March of 1936 and the protesters' long walk from Newcastle to London
July
BBC Proms 2006 We turned on the light, with text from Caryl Churchill on climate change, headlined the BBC Proms "Day of Voice". The Shout performed the piece with several hundred singers from National Youth Choirs, Huddersfield Choral Society and "rabbles" of singers from around the country and from the Prommers themselves.
BBC Proms 2006 We turned on the light, with text from Caryl Churchill on climate change, headlined the BBC Proms "Day of Voice". The Shout performed the piece with several hundred singers from National Youth Choirs, Huddersfield Choral Society and "rabbles" of singers from around the country and from the Prommers themselves.
May
The Singing Gallery Working with six London choirs, The Shout took over London's National Portrait Gallery, lamenting the many iconic portraits. As part of the NPG's 150th Birthday celebration year.
The Singing Gallery Working with six London choirs, The Shout took over London's National Portrait Gallery, lamenting the many iconic portraits. As part of the NPG's 150th Birthday celebration year.
March
The Shouting Fence, Westergasfabriek. Outdoors this time. Heroic. Mad. Too cold to think. Almost too cold to sing.
The Shouting Fence, Westergasfabriek. Outdoors this time. Heroic. Mad. Too cold to think. Almost too cold to sing.
2005
October
Sea Tongue. Directed by Felix Barratt, lit by Matt Haskins, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill.
A celebration of the re-opening of the marvellous De La Warr Pavilion. The main event was preceded by an outdoor event Scale which featured the debut of 16 gorgeous new megaphones.
Sea Tongue. Directed by Felix Barratt, lit by Matt Haskins, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill.
A celebration of the re-opening of the marvellous De La Warr Pavilion. The main event was preceded by an outdoor event Scale which featured the debut of 16 gorgeous new megaphones.
October
Fallen Fruit. Choral event, staged by Strange Cargo, Canterbury Festival.
The choir was joined by 300 amateur singers in a commissioned piece which railed against the Tesco-isation of the apple. The singing celebrated the extraordinary variety of apple types (2500 types, of which about three can be found in supermarkets), while a giant Heath Robinson machine, built by Andrew Baldwin, destroyed basketfuls of local apples.
Fallen Fruit. Choral event, staged by Strange Cargo, Canterbury Festival.
The choir was joined by 300 amateur singers in a commissioned piece which railed against the Tesco-isation of the apple. The singing celebrated the extraordinary variety of apple types (2500 types, of which about three can be found in supermarkets), while a giant Heath Robinson machine, built by Andrew Baldwin, destroyed basketfuls of local apples.
August
Stand. Trafalgar Square Festival.
A 15-minute piece commissioned by the festival, inspired by the history of protest in the square.
June
Opening concert, Noorderzon Festival, Groningen, Holland
Concert in a big top.
Opening concert, Noorderzon Festival, Groningen, Holland
Concert in a big top.
June
Opening concert of Theater der Welt, Stuttgart.
Midnight, by the side of the lake in the centre of the city, a warm still night.
Opening concert of Theater der Welt, Stuttgart.
Midnight, by the side of the lake in the centre of the city, a warm still night.
The Singing River Choral event, directed by Tom Ryser, River Neckar, Stuttgart.
The most ambitious site-specific event so far. A riverborne Because I Sing: 12 choirs on 20 boats, cranes, locomotives, JCBs, the audience in a giant stand on the side of the river. Yoge singing from the basket of a crane 50 metres in the air, Wills stranded on a raft, Carol in an amphicar…. The highlight: the monster hull Krake, with barges on either side, a choir on each barge, pirouetting down the river while the choirs sang two different versions of the same song Tchotcholoza.
May
Preview concert for Theater der Welt, Stuttgart
Preview concert for Theater der Welt, Stuttgart
August
Opening concert, Noorderzon Festival, Groningen, Holland Concert in a big top.
Opening concert, Noorderzon Festival, Groningen, Holland Concert in a big top.
2004
December
A Day In The Life, UK tour.
A Day In The Life, UK tour.
November
The Shouting Fence, Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam.
Three performances in an amazing (disused!) gasholder, produced by NOVIB (the Dutch version of Oxfam) as part of World Peace Week.
The Shouting Fence, Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam.
Three performances in an amazing (disused!) gasholder, produced by NOVIB (the Dutch version of Oxfam) as part of World Peace Week.
August
Performance at Association of British Choral Directors Conference, Exeter.
Performance at Association of British Choral Directors Conference, Exeter.
July
Shift Choral piece, with Crouch End Festival Chorus, Royal Festival Hall.
A stonking 40-minute choral piece commissioned by the Crouch End Festival Chorus, about our relationship with the natural world, from alchemy to GM crops.
Shift Choral piece, with Crouch End Festival Chorus, Royal Festival Hall.
A stonking 40-minute choral piece commissioned by the Crouch End Festival Chorus, about our relationship with the natural world, from alchemy to GM crops.
May - June
Lip UK Tour. A music-theatre piece, directed by Emma Bernard, lit by Adam Crosthwaite.
A staged version of the love song sequence from Deep Blue, expanded to include some new songs, some new stories and a crooning competition.
Lip UK Tour. A music-theatre piece, directed by Emma Bernard, lit by Adam Crosthwaite.
A staged version of the love song sequence from Deep Blue, expanded to include some new songs, some new stories and a crooning competition.
April
Launch of CD Deep Blue.
Launch of CD Deep Blue.
2003
December
Revival of A Day In The Life, The Drill Hall.
Sensibly, a 100% indoor experience.
Revival of A Day In The Life, The Drill Hall.
Sensibly, a 100% indoor experience.
October - November
Deep Blue. UK Concert tour, lit by Adam Crosthwaite.
Sea songs and love songs (how conventional can you get?). The tour included an extraordinary performance at the National Portrait Gallery, where the audience was taken on a guided tour of the galleries. There were so many people that progress was rather slow. But redeemed by the beauty of the settings. A particularly wonderful set in the transept of the Victorian Galleries.
Deep Blue. UK Concert tour, lit by Adam Crosthwaite.
Sea songs and love songs (how conventional can you get?). The tour included an extraordinary performance at the National Portrait Gallery, where the audience was taken on a guided tour of the galleries. There were so many people that progress was rather slow. But redeemed by the beauty of the settings. A particularly wonderful set in the transept of the Victorian Galleries.
October
The Big Sing Thing All-day vocal event at the Royal Festival Hall with 400 amateur singers + The Rustavi Choir (Georgia) + Orfeon (Turkey) + The Real Happy Singers (South Africa).
The Big Sing Thing All-day vocal event at the Royal Festival Hall with 400 amateur singers + The Rustavi Choir (Georgia) + Orfeon (Turkey) + The Real Happy Singers (South Africa).
Chaotic, splendid.
2002
December
A Day In The Life, Christmas Show, The Drill Hall.
Four demoralising performances out-of-doors, in which the busy shoppers fled from the singing as if they were being mugged and four much more satisfactory performances indoors. A sequence of songs and readings, most of them serious, not to say sombre, some daft. For the first time, songs composed and arranged by members of the choir.
A Day In The Life, Christmas Show, The Drill Hall.
Four demoralising performances out-of-doors, in which the busy shoppers fled from the singing as if they were being mugged and four much more satisfactory performances indoors. A sequence of songs and readings, most of them serious, not to say sombre, some daft. For the first time, songs composed and arranged by members of the choir.
July
Sea Tongue, a version for 600 hundred primary school children from Tower Hamlets.
Sea Tongue, a version for 600 hundred primary school children from Tower Hamlets.
September
Guest performance at the CISAC 2002 World Congress Conference, London
Guest performance at the CISAC 2002 World Congress Conference, London
April – June
Tall Stories. A music-theatre piece, directed by Rufus Norris, designed by Katriona Lindsay, lit by Giuseppe Di Iorio.
Tall Stories. A music-theatre piece, directed by Rufus Norris, designed by Katriona Lindsay, lit by Giuseppe Di Iorio.
UK Tour followed by performances at the Vienna Festival and the New Haven Festival of Arts and Ideas, Connecticut.
At last, the final version of the Tall Stories sequence, staged recklessly and with great skill by Rufus Norris.
2001
November
Sea Tongue. Huddersfield Town Hall as a part of Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival. Directed by Rufus Norris, lit by Adam Crosthwaite
An Oratorio with amateur singers, children, ballroom dancers, four pianos and percussion. A gale of sea stories.
Sea Tongue. Huddersfield Town Hall as a part of Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival. Directed by Rufus Norris, lit by Adam Crosthwaite
An Oratorio with amateur singers, children, ballroom dancers, four pianos and percussion. A gale of sea stories.
September – November
On Arrival UK tour, lit by Adam Crossthwaite
A sequence of music-theatre pieces, Introduced Is this Eden? based on reality TV shows (in particular Castaway) and Underworld, another contribution to the Tall Stories sequence.
On Arrival UK tour, lit by Adam Crossthwaite
A sequence of music-theatre pieces, Introduced Is this Eden? based on reality TV shows (in particular Castaway) and Underworld, another contribution to the Tall Stories sequence.
June
The Shouting Fence, Haarlem, Holland
The Shouting Fence, Haarlem, Holland
Corona, Bath Festival.
A performance in Laura Place as the final event in the Bath Festival: lit by Ann Bean entirely with luminous sticks. The brass band was the Flowers Band from Gloucester.
May
Site-specific performance at National Portrait Gallery
The singers sang songs to the portraits, notably Yoge (who is from Sri Lanka) to Queen Victoria, and three sopranos to the Bronte sisters.
Site-specific performance at National Portrait Gallery
The singers sang songs to the portraits, notably Yoge (who is from Sri Lanka) to Queen Victoria, and three sopranos to the Bronte sisters.
March
Because I Sing Directed by Alain Platelsite, produced by Artangel at Roundhouse, London.
A site-specific project with amateur choirs.
A choral portrait of London, with 16 amateur choirs who sang songs from their own repertoire as well as a specially-composed refrain and a bizarre collage of popular songs.
Because I Sing Directed by Alain Platelsite, produced by Artangel at Roundhouse, London.
A site-specific project with amateur choirs.
A choral portrait of London, with 16 amateur choirs who sang songs from their own repertoire as well as a specially-composed refrain and a bizarre collage of popular songs.
January
Launch of CD On Arrival (Carbon 7)
The CD was actually recorded in May 1999, and consisted of more or less everything that the choir could sing at the time.
Launch of CD On Arrival (Carbon 7)
The CD was actually recorded in May 1999, and consisted of more or less everything that the choir could sing at the time.
2000
November
Concert at the South London Gallery (Unknown Public Festival).
Included the first performance of Ariel Songs.
Concert at the South London Gallery (Unknown Public Festival).
Included the first performance of Ariel Songs.
September
Midnight Shout, Battersea Arts Centre.
Midnight Shout, Battersea Arts Centre.
June
The Shouting Fence, Bath Festival.
The Shouting Fence, Bath Festival.
May
Performances at the National Portrait Gallery and Battersea Arts Centre, London.
Performances at the National Portrait Gallery and Battersea Arts Centre, London.
April
State Of The Nation Festival, South Bank Centre.
Two concerts slanted at children (and including children as performers) at the Included the first performances of Stout Denial for aggressive adults and surly children, and of Lift Boy (from the poem by Robert Graves)
State Of The Nation Festival, South Bank Centre.
Two concerts slanted at children (and including children as performers) at the Included the first performances of Stout Denial for aggressive adults and surly children, and of Lift Boy (from the poem by Robert Graves)
1999
November
Tall Stories, a series of performances at The Drill Hall.
The song High Hopes was introduced. The first, tentative version of a song cycle about immigrants to New York.
Tall Stories, a series of performances at The Drill Hall.
The song High Hopes was introduced. The first, tentative version of a song cycle about immigrants to New York.
July
Corona. St. Ives International Festival, Cornwall
Outdoor oratorio, with amateur singers, children and brass band
A celebration of the total solar eclipse of 1999. The choir was joined by amateur singers and the wonderful Mount Charles Band from St. Austell. The piece was performed in a disused tin mine at Carnkie, near Redruth.
Corona. St. Ives International Festival, Cornwall
Outdoor oratorio, with amateur singers, children and brass band
A celebration of the total solar eclipse of 1999. The choir was joined by amateur singers and the wonderful Mount Charles Band from St. Austell. The piece was performed in a disused tin mine at Carnkie, near Redruth.
May
Mouth. A series of performances at The Drill Hall, London.
The repertoire was extended: the songs And the days are not full enough, Silence, Taking leave of a friend, I Said She Said (the choir’s first improvised song) are introduced.
Mouth. A series of performances at The Drill Hall, London.
The repertoire was extended: the songs And the days are not full enough, Silence, Taking leave of a friend, I Said She Said (the choir’s first improvised song) are introduced.
February
Concert at the Giving Voice Festival, Aberystwyth, Wales.
Concert at the Giving Voice Festival, Aberystwyth, Wales.
January
Concert at the Spitz, London.
A packed room above a restaurant in Spitalfields. The choir’s first performance with no amateur assistance.
Concert at the Spitz, London.
A packed room above a restaurant in Spitalfields. The choir’s first performance with no amateur assistance.
Its first songs: Tall Stories, Axaxaxas Mlo, Why Do You Sing? Tall Stories was accompanied by slide projections of photographs by Lewis Hine. The concert was promoted by Serious; we shared the bill with Scanner, who went away mildly miffed that he wasn’t the centre of attention.
1998
July
The Shouting Fence. Directed by Lucy Bailey, South Bank Centre.
London outdoor oratorio, with amateur singers and children.
The Shouting Fence. Directed by Lucy Bailey, South Bank Centre.
London outdoor oratorio, with amateur singers and children.
A 40-minute piece about a divided community in the Golan Heights on the border of Syria. The performance used the roofs of the Queen Elizabeth and Festival Halls, and the Hayward Gallery sculpture court. Some of the singing was through megaphones, a Shout trademark.