Presented by one of Europe’s most spectacular outdoor performance companies, Actiontheater PAN.OPTIKUM, Crossing Lines will combine dance, performance, rap and video projection, all on a giant scale, in order to create what is tipped to be one of the largest outdoor events the Corn Exchange has ever presented.
PAN.OPTIKUM’s spectacular shows, featuring giant moving structures, pyrotechnics and high impact sound and light, have been presented at major arts festivals across the world.
Crossing Lines has been developed in Freiburg, Germany, ahead of its premier there on 28 July. The show will be performed by 27 young people from nine different European countries, and following the premier, the company will tour to each participant’s country of origin. The UK premier performance, which is expected to draw an audience of around 4,000 people, is offering audiences from Berkshire and beyond the chance to experience a large scale outdoor show, right on their doorstep.
101 Producer, Juliet Coveney says that: “The Corn Exchange and 101 are thrilled to be part of such an exciting, Creative Europe funded, project.
“Working with an internationally renowned outdoor theatre company such as PAN.OPTIKUM is a great opportunity for us, the participants, and the audiences in Newbury and the surrounding areas who will come and see this show. We are excited to present an event of this scale.”
The UK participants include Thatcham local, Paige Mackay, Rosalind Chaston from Oxford, and Kyle Lockerby and Katy Burse from Folkestone. Local volunteer dancers will also have opportunity to join the main company and perform in the event in Newbury. The project’s initial aims of offering local young people the unique opportunity to be a part of an international performance, and creating a new multi-national European theatre ensemble made up of young people, is now being realised.
Crossing Lines is part of the Power of Diversity project which is co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.
The Corn Exchange’s Outdoor Arts programme is funded by the Greenham Trust and Arts Council England.
Crossing Lines will take place at Goldwell Park, Newbury at 9.30pm on Saturday August 12. The event is free to attend.