A walking tour of ReTreat a 2017 installation located at HOME, Manchester Space One stage.
In 2017, Josh was commissioned as an early careers artist as part of HOME MCR’s “radical” arts programme Project X. Josh would frequently get frustrated that there wasn’t a place for young professionals, specifically freelancers not attached to buildings, to go and chill out, not feeling pressured to buy a coffee or food. ReTreat was a relaxation bubble installation plonked on a large stage in an empty auditorium. ReTreat started with a thought, "I wonder if there is a shared relaxed experience that we all have been through in life despite our age, religion or culture"? The answer, our time in the womb. ReTreat was inspired by our earliest time in the womb, not a care in the world. With lava lamp lighting, huge bean bags, soft carpet and a unique soundscape Retreat became a space to just be and relax. The exit…a slide that birthed you into the auditorium into the world!
What makes us...us? Our souls are unique to us but what happens if part of our souls is captured + laid bare for all to see at different points around the building? In a world where we constantly capture ourselves on video, what defines us as us + them as digital? Malandra Jacks is a theatre + creative company from North Manchester, they use theatre + digital arts to amplify community voice + tell stories. Emergency X Contact
As humanity become increasingly reliant on technology our elderly become more and more isolated. Contactless follows a day in the life of Jackie, an eccentric 75 year old woman drowning in a world of technology.
A blend of poetry and music to explore the experience of growing up and to highlight the internalised misogyny imposed on young women. Drawing upon lived experience, the poet sheds light on societal struggles of sexual assault and violence. Working with Contact and Reclaim, the Creative Protagonists created radical, artistic work that explores how art has been used as a form of protest throughout the ages.
If you have any questions about our creative workshops and classes, please get in touch with a member of our team so we can talk.