Atomic 50 - Immersive Performance Workshop for Young People

Commisioned by Walthem Forest Council to celebate the history of tin manufacturing in the Leyton area of London, ‘Atomic 50’ is part performance, part interactive workshop for young people, transforming a disused school building in Leyton Sports Ground, as a ‘ghost’ factory that returns when there’s a need to revive the importance of metalworking skills.

I was approached to design the sound and composition, installing over 50 speakers, bespoke playback devices and triggers across multiple rooms. The showpiece for me was a ‘singing sculpture’, where young people could record their thoughts and feelings, with the recordings being fed back into the sculpture, mixing with a composition in realtime to contribute to the audio installation that changed and evolved with each performance.

Atomic 50. Time travels in in tin. Part of London Borough of Culture 2019 By Blackhorse Workshop and Abigail Conway Video by Paul J Cochrane 62 perfomances 14 adult workshops 720 local primary school children 1100 members of the public