Experience music in the forest, a requiem for the Earth. You are invited to interact with a series of sound boxes placed amongst the trees. Walk, listen, pause and move.

Prompted by the death of her mother, Helen Ottaway’s research began with her participation in the Sura Medura International Artists Residency in Sri Lanka in 2017. Beside the Indian Ocean she created soundscapes, performances and tunes for musical box. On her return to the UK she continued to develop ideas including creating Wind & Unwind for Dorset Moon (Sherborne Abbey) in 2019. She also delivered her talk A New Kind of Requiem at conferences and galleries across the South West.

The Requiem has been developed with poet Rosie Jackson, who has written poetry and prose, combined words and collected stories to create the libretto.

Saeflod combines installation and performance. Text, music and found sound – and invites active participation from audience and visitors. It is a requiem for all our losses – human and environmental. Performers will include Helen’s long time collaborator singer Melanie Pappenheim and a specially created Saeflod choir.

This is a world premiere, commissioned by Activate Performing Arts for Inside Out Dorset 2023. Activate has supported this work throughout its development.