This autumn Appetite presents Lookout by Andy Field and Beckie Darlington
What does the future hold? What will Stoke-on-Trent look like in 40 years’ time? An array of questions, thoughts and hopes about the future are encapsulated in Lookout, a project by artists Andy Field and Beckie Darlington that sees them work with local primary school children. With valuable voices and opinions about the future of their city, children aged 9 have worked with the artists on Lookout and now the participants will be leading conversations with audience members on Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 November in the Digital Kiln at Staffordshire University, over-looking the city. Tickets are now on sale for this unique performance through the New Vic Box Office.
Andy and Beckie have travelled all over the world delivering Lookout, from Manchester to Shanghai and Cairo to Llandudno. It’s now back in the UK for the first time since 2017 and Stoke-on-Trent is the first city they will visit on a new tour. The Lookout tour will return to our area in June 2022 when it visits Newcastle-under-Lyme. Created with local primary school children from the Crescent Academy, Meir; Lookout is a personal encounter between one adult audience member and one child performer. The two will stand together looking out at the streets and buildings of Stoke-on-Trent, as they begin to talk about its future.
This moving, reflective and quiet 30-minute performance will be full of big ideas that may change and challenge the way audience members look at their city forever. It’s been a turbulent time for everyone during the pandemic and Lookout asks audience members to look forward into what our futures could be.
Appetite Director Gemma Thomas said ‘We wanted to bring Lookout to Stoke-on-Trent to hear the voice of the future. Children and young people have a really important voice in so many ways and especially in thinking about the future they would like for themselves, their friends and family. Lookout gives them a space to be listened to, to talk to adults, develop skills, have a conversation and perhaps even challenge us to create a future they’d like to see. Andy and Beckie have worked with 9 year olds all over the world developing Lookout; they are skilled artists with a talent for instilling confidence and creating this lovely, quiet but huge encounter. We can’t wait to see what hopes and dreams these children have.’
Lookout Artists Andy Field and Beckie Darlington said: ‘We are thrilled to be bringing Lookout back to the UK for the first time since 2017 and to be working with an incredible group of children in Stoke-on-Trent to make the project happen. Now more than ever it is a privilege to have the opportunity to listen to young people imagine a new future of their home city.’
Six half hourly performances of Lookout are taking place between 12pm to 4.30pm on Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 November. Tickets are available now, priced £5 Adults £4 Concessions, and can be booked through the New Vic Box Office, by visiting the website here or calling 01782 717962.
Main image by Leonie Gasson
