FROM RURAL TO CUTTING EDGE

By HELEN TIPLADY Deputy Creative Director

Acclaimed recording artist Carleen Anderson is testament to the kind of creative talent we back, now and in the future. With Hall for Cornwall in its new guise there’s opportunity for us to be the instigator of innovative new work, and our building the canvas for new ideas, so expect more of both.

Hall for Cornwall first collaborated on Carleen’s 2018 stage production that she described as her ‘Tribal Opera’, otherwise known as Cage Street Memorial. In its early development Arts Council England provided funding to workshop it and the work garnered high praise when presented to selected industry professionals. The accompanying album, subsequently staged at the Barbican, was recorded at Falmouth University. With six acclaimed albums under her belt Carleen has accumulated numerous industry accolades, including a Brit Award and coveted Mercury Prize. She became one of our Associate Artists in 2019 and part of a wave of artists and companies we’ve seed funded and nurtured from the wider creative industries for over four years now.

In 2022, and as the newly formed Cornwall Playhouse Productions, we co-produced the world premiere of Carleen’s new work MELIOR Opus Griot, a compelling futuristic opera performed by a truly original ensemble of artists, both professional and community performers. Again, Arts Council support was instrumental. Conceived, composed, written, and performed by Carleen this new work brought together world class musicians with Cornish talent.

It was a unique blend of storytelling, singing, poetry, projection and music, fusing jazz, soul, electronic and classical. Carleen was joined on stage by renowned vocalists China Moses (who flew in from New York) and Terri Walker, award-winning saxophonist Camilla George, alongside a chamber quartet, a group of Cornish professionals, community performers and a specially formed choir.

It was brilliant to see some of the young performers from our open access dance programme perform, as well as create the choreography. Behind the scenes we provided work experience too as the 40-strong cast had their hair and make up done by students from Cornwall College, St Austell.

This incredible ensemble also enjoyed a sound track and the use of digital MI.MU Gloves (wearable tech that maps movement and sound) created by Grammy-winning artist Imogen Heap.
Carleen had a gem of an idea and we simply nurtured it in collaboration with her, drawing on and further developing our ability to produce innovative work that people want to see.

This show was a unique spectacle for everyone involved and a landmark work in Carleen’s illustrious career. As for the team and I here at the Hall, it was an inspiration for how we produce new work with different artists in future.

All I can say is, let’s create more and watch this space.