An extraordinary promenade performance in the dunes of Lunan Bay in Angus, is coming later this year.
Commissioned by Hospitalfield and Arbroath 2020+1, Over Lunan has been created by Angus Farquhar, creative director of social action and arts organisation Aproxima Arts with dramaturg and former artistic director of Unicorn Theatre Purni Morell, this significant live commission blends an atmospheric ambisonic sound installation and live music with elements of public memorial.
As darkness falls, audience members become immersed in one of Scotland’s most stunning coastal locations; in an unusual work that draws on the fragility of the natural world and ancient flood mythologies. This special open-air production running from 9-19 September (no performance on 13th) is designed to be enjoyed in a relaxed, socially distant environment.
Angus Farquhar has assembled an inspiring team to produce Over Lunan which includes Purni Morell as dramaturg and co-script writer, composer of electroacoustic music Andrew Knight-Hill, trumpeter and conductor Bede Williams, director of Chapel Choirs at the University of St Andrews Claire Innes-Hopkins, musician and composer Cameron Sinclair with music recorded by the St Salvator’s Chapel Choir which is based at St Andrews University.
The team also includes Angus Farquhar’s long-term collaborator designer James Johnson and world-leading Assyriologist Nathan Wasserman.
Beautiful Lunan Bay
Angus Farquhar said: ‘As we began to research the name Lunan through the location and the family name, we found some unusual thinking linking to Luna the Roman divine embodiment of the moon, then back further through time to Lu-Nanna, one of the Apkallu – ancient Mesopotamian demi-gods, half-human and half-fish who walked out of the sea to bring knowledge to humanity.
‘Within these first creation myths, pre-biblical stories of a great flood began to appear in epic poetry.
‘In the real world we find the remarkable story of the Storegga Slides which caused a gigantic tsunami that destroyed Scotland’s north east shores 8100 years ago. All this seems pertinent to the world now, with sea levels rising due to climate crisis and thousands dying as they cross the seas, trying to escape wars or in search of a better life.
‘Over Lunan is Aproxima Arts first major production and we cannot wait to hear what local audiences – and those able to travel from further afield – think of the stories we’re exploring.’
Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s director of events, said: ‘EventScotland is delighted to be supporting Over Lunan through Scotland’s Events Recovery Fund as part of the celebrations for Arbroath Festival 2020+1 and in celebration of Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters 20/21.
‘As restrictions continue to ease it is great to see more live events starting to take place as they play an important role in our communities by providing both great entertainment as well as bringing social and economic change.”
Over Lunan is part of Arbroath Festival 2020+1, a three-month long celebration of the 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath which was postponed by a year due to the global pandemic. An apolitical festival championing the creativity in the region, Arbroath Festival will see the area busy across the summer months with live performances, cultural trails, exhibition and family events, all led by the local community.
Accompanying Over Lunan, a radio play produced by Steve Urquhart and written and directed by Purni Morell will premiere on Radio North Angus and Resonance FM this summer. It will explore the story of journalist Charlie Ross who spent a summer in Lunan Bay in 2015, investigating the area’s history and mythology, and the natural forces that have shaped this coast through millennia. He died before his work was complete, but his discoveries, including Lunan’s connection to the ancient cultures of the Middle East, are now brought to life posthumously in this radio play.
Tickets for Over Lunan are now on sale, with a 33% discount for local audiences available. Those keen on making the event part of a bigger experience exploring the natural beauty of Angus are welcome to book a camping spot on Lunan Farm site here. For full FAQs, including information on accessibility, parking and how to get to Lunan Bay, click here.
The event is presented in celebration of Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters 20/21 and generously supported by the Scottish Government, EventScotland, Creative Scotland, William Grant Foundation and Garfield Weston Foundation.
Tickets are available to book HERE, priced from £8.
For more details visit www.aproxima.co.uk/
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