The Bell

Periplum

Aerial, Music/Sound, Theatre, Walkabout

The Bell is a theatrical spectacle and 360-degree surround performance for audiences of up to 5,000 people.

A sensory extravaganza, The Bell takes inspiration from the visceral imagery of films by Akira Kurosawa (Ran) and Andrei Tarkovsky (Andrei Rublev), creating a potent tale of hope and redemption. The show features dynamic promenade action, mobile structures, pyrotechnics, stilts, aerial performance and soaring music to explore timeless themes of war and peace in a spectacle of fire, light and humanity re-born from the ashes.

The Bell tells a simple and moving story of striving to transcend conflict and find resolution through shared struggle. The action moves around and through the audience who are in the centre of the performance space and are included through promenade movements and vocal interactions. The show features fire & pyro designed by The World Famous & delivered by Lightfires.

About Periplum

Periplum produces ground-breaking site-responsive & outdoor theatre performance, making work that is narrative-led and content-driven while bringing the intimacy of human drama into shows of a spectacular scale.

In collaboration with composers, designers, engineers & pyrotechnicians, the company deliver highly visual, socially significant and emotionally explosive work for all the senses. The company produce large and mid-scale touring productions for festivals, and also specialise in heritage, participatory & educational projects, creating unique location-specific events.

Formed in 1999 by Artistic Directors Claire Raftery and Damian Wright, Periplum place equal emphasis on all elements of performance – innovative visual design, original text, specially commissioned music & quality acting. We explore dynamic staging that responds to & visually transforms environments, offering an intense & interactive experience through 360-degree surround performance and promenading formats.

Production Credits:

Created by Artistic Directors Claire Raftery and Damian Wright

Funding, commissioning and partner credits:

Funded by Arts Council England

Co-commissioned by Without Walls, Hastings Borough Council, Made in Brighton, National Theatre of England and Winchester Hat Fair.