Creators of captivating installations, bespoke performances & audio-based experiences for the outdoors.
WHISPERED TALES was established in 2019 and is artistically led by Esther Simpson and Steve Gibbs. At the heart of every single project we create is a true story that we believe needs to heard by a wider and a much more diverse audience, which is why we’re so passionate about creating artistic experiences that are placed in an outdoor public setting. Whispered Tales specialise in creating visual and sound-based installations and performances that shine a light on forgotten stories.
Our first project Distant Drums is currently touring and has received numerous critical praise.
“A highlight of Surge Festival 2021, exhilarating and moving” Surge Festival.
“Distant Drums is excellent. It makes a real statement, telling an important story” The Lowry.
“Quality writing, these stories need to get out there” Don Letts, BBC 6 Music
Distant Drums is a mid scale digital art installation and performance that tells the story of Reggae Sound System culture and the importance of music in the fight for racial equality. The installation consists of a replica vintage Jamaican-style sound system stack stood upon a plinth. Inside are a number of LCD bright daytime screens, which show a digital artwork based on Sound System Culture. The public will hear a soundtrack rooted in dub reggae tunes introduced by the MC Solo Banton, sharing anecdotes and reflections on sound system culture from the 1960’s through to the present day. The installation can also be booked for Light Night events.
OUTDOOR DANCE PERFORMANCE
As the speakers power up, the public witness a thought provoking performance that charts the story of sound system culture and its importance in the fight for racial equality. Choreographed by Donald Edwards (founding member of Phoenix Dance) two performers appear on and around the sound system taking the audience from Africa to the Caribbean until they arrive on the shores of the UK. The performance fuses a range of dance styles from African, Caribbean, Contemporary alongside a healthy helping of skanking and Rubadub.
Dance, Digital, Installation, Music, Physical Theatre
Additional Areas of Focus
Community Engagement
