AN IMMERSIVE MIXED REALITY REALITY PERFORMANCE CELEBRATING THE OPENING OF CULTURE HOUSE

HOME invites you to see Sunderland from a new distance. Live performers, the people around you and Culture House itself become part of a changing digital world as one young woman looks beyond the city and finds her way back to it.

SUNDERLAND STORY

Lyra grows up on the banks of the Wear with a dream of becoming an astronaut. Her journey opens a route through Sunderland's past, present and possible futures. Along the way, the story remembers people whose knowledge, courage, invention, art and music have shaped the city, and turns towards a new generation of writers, makers and dreamers.

The city becomes the stage.

HOME was created to mark the opening of Culture House. The building is more than a backdrop: its floors, balconies, windows and public spaces hold different parts of the story. As you move, Culture House shifts between spacecraft, time machine, living archive and a place where new ideas can grow.

HOME was co-created with Sunderland residents, some of whom are performing with us today. Their presence makes HOME a story told with the city, in the city, at the moment a new cultural building opens its doors.

Welcome to Culture House.

Welcome HOME.

INSIDE THE EXPERIENCE

HOME is a live, moving performance rather than a traditional seated show. You will explore different areas of Culture House and choose a route through the experience.

TIMING

Allow 30 minutes for everyone to enter and comfortable with the headset. The performance itselfs lasts about 50 minutes.

HEADSET

A headset adds digital imagery to the live performance and the building. Wearing it is optional, and you can remove it at any time.

MOVEMENT

The experience travels through different parts of Culture House. Step free routes and seated options are available.

SOUND AND LIGHT

Expect loud and spatial sound, dim areas, changing lights, fast moving imagery and simulated height, flight and movement. There is no strobe lighting.

COMFORT AND ACCESS

Headsets can sometimes cause dizziness, nausea, eyestrain, headache or disorientation. You may take the headset off, pause or leave whenever you need to. .

Ask a member of staff for help if you feel uncomfortable

Most glasses can be worn with the headset.

If you use hearing devices, wear headwear or would benefit from a seated, step free or quieter route, find a team member.

YELLOW T-SHIRTS

Should you need to find a team member they will be identifiable by their yellow t-shirts.

FIND YOUR WAY … HOME

CREDITS

SOUTHPAW COMPANY

Artistic Direction - Robby Graham

Executive Director & Co-Producer - Catherine Johns

Company Manager & Co-Producer - Kate Pilbeam

Engagement Coordinator - Natalie Halaseh

Rehearsal Director - Beth Pattison

COMPANY PERFORMERS

Lyra - Megan Harman

Maker - Billy Keen

Coder - Rion Taylor

Presenter - Jon Rodd

Kez - Olly Bell

Jamie - Connor Gribben

Florence - Hannah Bentley

Digital Artist - Sophie Mitford

Reader - Kira Atkinson

Movement created in collaboration with Southpaw company performers.

HOME was co-created with AMPLIFY, Southpaw's community cast company.

VOICE OVER & RECORDING

Voice Artists - Dean Bone, Dale Jewitt, Jude Nelson & Eleanor Grainger

Agent - Janet Plater Management

Recording studio - Local Heroes

Script - Robby Graham

Sound File - Robby Graham

PRODUCTION & DIGITAL

Production Manager - Paul-Marc Tomkins (Core Crew Events)

Digital Developer - Tom Scarborough (Solve Evolve)

TouchDesigner and screen content - Paul Trickett (Katsina Palm)

Unity Developer - Kuba Molewski

Pixera Systems Management - Keith Crouch (Fraction AV)

Audio & Lighting - Adam White (Alrose Productions)

AV - Jonathan Keeley (PureAV)

Costume Design - Sian Booth

Costume Assistant - Maddy Williamson

Production Assistant - Lucy Smith

Assistant Stage Manager - Natalie Halaseh

Videographer - Benny Smith

Headset Setup - Fabien Nicolas & India Dixon

Aerial Support - Aria Movement

CULTURE HOUSE

Director and Head of Cultural Services - Leanne Littlewood

Digital Producer - Sarah Younas

General Manager - Michela Johnson

Technical Supervisor - Peter Cernik

Cast Catering provided by our neighbours from Vito’s, Ember, no. 32, Riverside Cafe. Thank you!

With grateful thanks to the entire Culture House Team for their welcome and support.

PARTNERS & THANKS

With thanks to Southpaw Company performers, AMPLIFY, Arts North Studios, Sunderland College and everyone who has shared their time, skill and ideas with HOME.

Created and presented by Southpaw Company and commissioned by Culture House Sunderland.

Funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with thanks to the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority.

CAST

Abbie Morrison - Abigail Bullivant - Aimee Middleton - Alesha Aljeffri - AlexClelland - Alisha Watson - Anna Knighton - Ava Hauxwell - Ayse Russell - Bailey Burgess - Brenda Hornby - Brooklyn Carter - Charlotte Mason -Chloe Williamson - Christian Baxter - Clare Smith -Cobin Ash - Cole Morgan - Connor Woodward - Daniella Prologo - Darcy Barnes - Demi Tyrrell - Ebony Rose Lamb Elaine - Ferguson - Ellie Gallant - Ellie Roughead Ellie Rose Spoors - Emma Robertson - Erin Minto - Emily Kerr - Erin Tokell - Evie Cullen - Freya Simpson - Georgina Welsh - Glen Hutchinson -Hope Travers -Isabelle Dunton - Isabelle Graham -Jacob Ng - Jenny Hartley - Jessica Johnson Derivan - Jessica Rogerson - Jessica McCoy - Jill Devlin - Joan Abu - Judith Burford - Katie Wilkinson - Keisha Medrano - Kieron Armstrong - Kieron Cassidy - Kieron Crawford - Kira Atkinson Nicolson - Lacey Young - Layton Matthews - Leighton Taylor - Lesley Clelland - Lexi Wilton - Liz Highmore - Logan Mellish - Maddie Brown -Mark Clark - Max Headley Mia Hall - Mickey O'Donnall - Max Surtees - Molly Daymond - Morgan Dixon - Nicola Bond - Olivia Soulsby - Peyton Scrafton - Phoebe Cunningham - Roxanne Robins - Ryan Hunter - Scarlett Ruyten - Susan Hodson - Sydney Rain - Taegan Humphrey - Tia Hall

HOME

Presented by Southpaw Company, commissioned by Culture House Sunderland. This project is being funded by the UK Government as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund with thanks to the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority.