HALF LIFE

Kilmartin Glen, Argyll

4th - 16th September 2007, Preview: 3 September 2007.

www.halflife.org.uk

HALF LIFE is a major new landscape work and the first co-production between The National Theatre of Scotland and the renowned innovators NVA. Staged throughout the day and night in one of the world’s most significant prehistoric regions, HALF LIFE offers a physical and emotive experience which reveals the dark but inspiring mindset of Scotland’s early Neolithic inhabitants. The extraordinarily rich heritage of Mid-Argyll has a remarkable story to tell, through thousands of years of intense marking of living rock formations and the raising and building of henges and burial complexes. It carries the beginnings of a truly cultural landscape.

HALF LIFE starts by day, when you are invited to explore a series of atmospheric sites and installations based around known and rarely seen prehistoric landmarks. The route follows recently recovered archaeological field notes giving invaluable insight into the area. These include newly discovered cup and ring marked stones carved 3,000 to 4,000 years ago, magnificent burial cairns, standing stones and ancient hill forts, with walks ranging from 15 minutes to 3 hours. Dense forests are manipulated to create intriguing new entrances and vistas around chosen sites, while new audio compositions enhance the existing sounds of the natural environment.

In the evening, a powerful outdoor production will be staged in an atmospheric forest location at the entrance to Kilmartin glen, centred on a sculptural set constructed from hundreds of felled logs. Seen through the eyes of an eminent archaeologist, in HALF LIFE the realms of the living and the dead seem to merge, bringing to light the remarkable beliefs that focussed the ritual activity in our earliest societies; beliefs that still echo through the present landscape.

HALF LIFE in the community

NTS learn are working with 100 third year pupils from Lochgilphead High School over a 13 week period. A team of leading artists with a variety of creative skills and backgrounds explore the idea of “Journey” in the physical, emotional and spiritual sense. The work created will be a combination of: live performance, video imagery, art installation and music composition but most importantly work will be created and owned by the pupils, who will be going on their own journey as the project develops.

In addition, a bespoke work-shadowing programme is planned for young adults to have a once in a lifetime chance to work alongside some of the UK’s specialists in the field of design, light and sound technology. To find out more about community opportunities please contact our Community Co-ordinator Margo Winning on margo@nva.org.uk.

NVA, The Storr: Unfolding landscape:
“…It really did feel as if we were looking at something happening in another world, heaven perhaps” Observer, 7 August 2005

Day events
Creative Director: Angus Farquhar
Designers: James Johnson / Simon Costin
Sound Curator: Barry Esson
Sound Composers: Lee Patterson / Toshiya Tsunoda
Book designers: Skratch

Night performance
Creative Director: Angus Farquhar
Co-Director: Mark Murphy
Writer: Thomas Legendre
Designers: James Johnson / Simon Costin
Sound Curator: Barry Esson
Lighting Designer: Phil Supple
Composers: Rhodri Davies /Angharad Davies

HALF LIFE will raise Argyll & Bute’s profile nationally and internationally to broaden the range of quality events currently taking place. No equivalent nationally led arts project has been undertaken in the region before and it remains pioneering on a UK wide level. The venture also has the potential to boost the local economy by creating temporary employment and attracting significant tourism.

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