Charlotte Spencer Projects Is this a Waste Land?
Play Trailer
A performance through headphones for disused spaces.
Set on an empty plot of land on the edge of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, this immersive performance invites us to re-imagine how we value our landscape, homes and communities.
As day dips towards night you’re given headphones and offered instructions amidst a constantly shifting soundscape that is delicate and thoughtful one moment, infectious and playful the next. Many worlds are created, destroyed and re-purposed in a generous playground built by everyone.
Charlotte Spencer Projects work in unusual spaces in order to open up new forms of conversation. We invite you to enter their intelligent and transformative world. Following the past year of separation and isolation Is this a Waste Land? asks us to explore ways of being together again.
Image description: In a field, a woman wearing warm clothes, headphones and red work gloves stands facing us, one hand raised, her gaze focused to the side. Further back, another woman, also wearing headphones and gloves, walks out of the image to the right. In the foreground is a sculptural assemblage of an old car tyre, pipes and wires. In the far distance, there is a row of trees and a pylon.
Is this a Waste Land? was supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Co-commissioned by Deep Roots Tall Trees, Compass Commission from the Greenwich Dance and Trinity Laban Partnership, Patrons of Charlotte Spencer Projects and a crowdfund campaign. Further funding from South East Dance, Greenwich Dance and Pavilion Dance South West. ITAWL was supported via South East Dance and Jerwood Charitable Foundation Dramaturg in Residence programme. 2021 performances are being presented in partnership with Dance North, Scotland and Sadler’s Wells, London.
This presentation is supported by London Legacy Development Corporation.
What people are saying
Well-executed, inspired and surprisingly moving
EXEUNT MAGAZINE
Hands down, feet down, the most magical dance event of my year
DAVID JAYS, DANCING TIMES on WALKING STORIES
How to get to Bridgewater:
Off-Site Location: Bridgewater at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, E15
From Pudding Mill Lane DLR station cross the road in front of you and take the ramp leading onto Greenway. Follow the pedestrian path and you will see the entrance to the site on your left. The walk is 0.2 miles (approximately a 5-minute walk) from the station. The What3Words location is ///trials.wire.sings.
Please arrive 15 minutes before the performance begins so we can issue you with headphones.
This is a participatory work where audiences are invited to follow aural instructions as they lift, carry, construct, de-construct and engage with different materials. It happens in the evening and we aim to proceed with performances even in wet weather, so please dress accordingly and wear comfortable shoes.
Recommended for Age 12+
Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Not suitable for under 8s.
Access:
Please contact Ticket Sales if you have access requirements, such as BSL interpretation or are a wheelchair user, so we can best support your visit.
Please e-mail tickets@sadlerswells.com and we will arrange a time to speak with you.
There is step-free access to the site from Pudding Mill Lane DLR.
Performances
Age 16 - 30?
See the best dance in the world for £10 with Barclays Dance Pass at Sadler’s Wells.