Art and wellbeing are the focus as Rude Health gets underway
The month-long Rude Health festival of theatre, dance and music has begun at The Tute, the former Miners’ Welfare Institute in Cambois, Northumberland, run by playwright Alex Oates and dancer Esther Huss.
It will bring big names to the village in the coming weeks, each of which has a different theme (Mental Health this week, to be followed by Ageing & Isolation; Women, Health & Equality; and finally Planetary Health).
Musician Tim Dalling will conclude week one on Saturday (October 5) with an afternoon training session ahead of an evening performance called Musical Boxing which will see music improvisers battle in a boxing ring but with no punches thrown.
Highlight of week two will be Krapp’s Last Tape, the Samuel Beckett play, performed by actor Trevor Fox (not long back from Stratford and the Royal Shakespeare Company) and directed by Andy Berriman.
Week three will bring Jacky Lansley, the influential choreographer and dancer, to the village where she and Esther will lead a workshop and perform new work.
Week four, focusing on younger audiences, promises a performance by Miscreations Theatre and a sound installation made by Bedlington Academy students with composer Jeremy Bradfield and writer Hilary Elder.
All events are free. Find details on The Tute website.