Eye - 15 December 2023
From Sustainable shimmies to On this day
Sustainable shimmies
Dorking Friends have been exploring ecological concerns during a creative community project. Tara Craig told Eye: ‘Shimmy is not a word often associated with Quakers, but Friends recently found themselves shimmying to both the left and the right in the unlikely setting of Dorking Meeting House.
‘The occasion? Passion for the Planet, an immersive promenade performance for adults and children about ecological sustainability and care. The work of Damned Cheek Productions, it filled the Meeting house with music, song, dance, storytelling and puppetry.’
Friends took to the dance floor but could also be found elsewhere: ‘Some shimmied, some drew self-portraits, while others helped with the planning, and others still housed actors during the performance’s eight-day run.’
More than 400 people visited the Meeting house during Passion for the Planet, and ‘some 1,000 Dorkingians gave their time, energy and skills to the project, with local schools and community groups involved from the outset’.
It isn’t over yet though Friends! ‘It is hoped that the message – that we need to do more to protect our planet – will prevail, and that the performance is the start of something not only for Dorking Quaker Meeting, but for the wider local community. Whether that will involve shimmying remains to be seen!’
You need to login to read subscriber-only content and/or comment on articles.