Summary

The Tale was a major arts event that came to Torbay in September 2017. The Tale was a journey of discovery across the coast of Torbay, inspired by the writing of acclaimed author Philip Hoare, who spent many childhood holidays there. Audience uncovered site-specific art works across three towns in South Devon, navigating the journey with just a handy guide.

Our Ocean Youth team worked directly with acclaimed sound artist and BBC Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson. We recorded underwater sounds with him for inclusion in his immersive sound installation, No Man's Land deep in an ancient quarry on Berry Head. No Man's Land took the audience on a journey of the world's oceans, starting with recordings from Brixham, taking a sonic journey of the imagination through the seas, from Weddell seals singing under the Antarctic sea ice, to the coral reef in the South China seas, and finishing back with sounds from Paignton Harbour.

 

We also worked with over 300 primary school children up on Berry Head, helping them to connect to the natural world through recording environmental sounds.

 

We organised a Storybus to pick up residents from 6 care homes and take them around to selected Tale sites. The experience of the arts events prompted memories of Torbay for the residents and we recorded these memories as we travelled around, often with our young ocean Youth team doing the recordings.

 

 

Aims

• Develop their location recording skills
• Learn about vocational audio production pathways
• Develop an understanding of sound art and it?s potential applications

We also wanted:

• To explore how travelling and recording can work to inspire stories

• Enable elderly residents of Torbay to experience a once in a lifetime arts

 

 

Partners

Situations

Selected Care Homes

 

Funders

Arts Council England

Ageing Well Torbay

Heritage Lottery Fund

 

 

 

 

Sound Communities made such a huge impact on The Tale in so many ways. It's just the way we love to work, with your expertise and networks weaving into lots of different aspects of The Tale. Thanks so much for this open minded and generous approach that benefited so many people.
Michael Prior, Senior Producer, The Tale 2017