Back in 10 – new performances at Black Country Living Museum’s Summer Evenings.

A new set of performances ‘Back in 10’, produced by Black Country Touring, will be taking place during Black Country Living Museum’s Summer Evenings this month using the museum’s famous shops as a backdrop.

Five artists from a range of disciplines are developing contemporary responses in three locations at the Museum; The Trap Works, J. Wiltshire Pawnbrokers andGripton’s Radio. Each week they are working in a new location and will present short 10-15 minute performances every Friday.

The newly developed pieces will help visitors explore new ways of seeing the space through a range of creative performance that includes poetry, music and dance.

Performances will be created by theatre artist Rochi Rampal; Black Country performance poet Dave Reeves; choreographer Sonia Sabri; and sound and music designer Pavan Chand. With set and costume design by Abigail King and led by director Steve Johnstone of Black Country Touring.

The artists are supported by three graduates from the University of Wolverhampton, who initially conducted research to find out what each space provoked in visitors today.

Performer Dave Reeves

Sidebotham’s Trap Works is the first location on the 3rd of August, where animal traps of all sizes were made and shipped around the world. Canal Street depicts life in the 1900s and is the second location with J. Wiltshire Pawnbrokers at the heart on the 10th August. The third location on the 17th August is Old Birmingham Road, set in the 1930s, with Gripton’s Radio as a starting point, but spilling into adjacent areas.

Visitors can expect everything from mechanised soundscapes, the appearance of a genie, a promenade-wander blurring time between the present and the past, and a split story encountered from two contrasting worlds.

This pilot activity will inform a larger-scale project in 2019, working in 15 shops across Sandwell, Wolverhampton and Black Country Living Museum. This activity will create inspiring moments in shops, bringing shop-owners and communities closer together through the magic of performance.

Back in 10 is produced by Black Country Touring and is developed in partnership with Black Country Living Museum. This is the first public-facing project of a four-year partnership between Black Country Touring & Black Country Living Museum.

Back in 10 is part of BCLM’s Summer Evenings programme: £5 entry after 4pm to discover a new theme each Friday.

Back in 10 Performances
3rd August – The Trap Works, 5pm, 5.45pm, 6.30pm, 7.15pm
10th August – J. Wiltshire Pawnbrokers, 5pm, 5.45pm, 6.30pm, 7.15pm
17th August – Gripton’s Radio, 5pm, 5.45pm, 6.30pm, 7.15pm
24th August – All three locations from 5pm onwards

Venue Address: Black Country Living Museum, Tipton Road, Dudley, DY1 4SQ.
£5 entry after 4pm. Open until 8pm.
Bookings: 0121 557 9643