A theatre group has managed to keep a full programme of activities and events in the past 12 months despite the coronavirus lockdown.

Theatre Orchard's Big Whirl Festival, planned for June 2020 was re-imagined digitally. Self-filmed videos were co-ordinated with the community and launched online, on the original day of the outdoor event, with a Facebook reach of over 15,000. 

Theatre Orchard also curated a LockedIn Festival with local musicians, keeping communities and artists engaged through the first lockdown.  

MORE: Artwork reflecting life in lockdown and seaside to brighten up towns.

Speakeasy, online poetry evenings were established and regular family dance Flashmobs held on Zoom to raise spirits and energy levels, providing an international reach with people joining from across the UK and Europe and as far afield as America.

A spring film captured community voices and images in North Somerset, reflecting a unique time capsule of life during Covid and a poem All Closer Together Now, created by Chapter One creative writing group expressed the sentiments felt during lockdown, brought together in a film with a nature-filled soundscape.

Weston Mercury: Culture Weston director, Fiona Matthews, alongside the final designs. Picture: Culture WestonCulture Weston director, Fiona Matthews, alongside the final designs. Picture: Culture Weston (Image: Archant)

Fiona Matthews, artistic director at Theatre Orchard, said: “This past year has brought immense challenges, and a spirit of local support has been essential to so many.

"At Theatre Orchard, we've felt privileged to be part of North Somerset’s close and proactive community. Throughout the past 12 months we have reimagined our existing programmes to respond to emerging social and emotional needs and built new creative partnerships on the back of local conversations, giving many an opportunity to connect, talk, laugh, and find solace or escapism through creative collaboration.

"We’d like to say a massive thank you to all those people who have danced, drawn, acted, written, and much, much more with us, and to all the talented artists who have shared their energies and been part of this creative journey.

"As we emerge from lockdown and settle into our new Weston town centre premises, we hope to open new creative doors for even more of you.”

Creative projects Holidaying At Home and Let's Get Visible engaged communities in fun, escapist activities, while Theatr Iolo’s Owl At Home extracts from Arnold Lobel’s enchanting stories provided the perfect bed-time listening for youngsters. Sharp Teeth's sell-out interactive, online show Sherlock In Homes, hosted by Theatre Orchard, also turned the audience into front room detectives.

Weston Mercury: Theatre Orchard will host the murder mystery show over Zoom.Theatre Orchard will host the murder mystery show over Zoom. (Image: Theatre Orchard)

When restrictions lifted in the summer, Theatre Orchard introduced socially distanced and Covid-safe activities and events, with Carboot Disco Bingo and Susann the socially distanced robot taking place in the Italian Gardens as part of Heritage Open Days. 

Bespoke projects were created with looked after children and SEN groups, ensuring free, inclusive and tailored activities for a diverse range of people in the community.

A Christmas collaboration with Bristol Old Vic's Angels In Bristol saw Weston hailed as 'the promised land' in an online show which received acclaimed, national broadsheet reviews.  

Early in 2020 a new initiative, Culture Weston, was launched. The official launch was planned as part of an Arts + Health Festival in March produced in partnership with UHBW Arts Programme. 

To replace the planned activity, including outdoors events, organisers quickly came up with a lockdown alternative, re-configuring the project to deliver it digitally. This included presenting a webinar on creative ageing and a range of artist-led films to help people be creative at home. 

The partnership also commissioned a socially distanced artwork that is touring internationally and nationally before coming home to Weston this autumn. The group published the Boredom Buster newspaper for NHS patients in hospitals and residents in care settings across the country. It was so successful that a second issue is about to be launched this spring.

MORE: Free newspaper created in Weston for NHS patients.

A new Culture Weston website was created to provide a platform for information and on-going, digital content, in the absence of in-real-life activity.

Weston Mercury: Culture Weston's green champion Paula Birtwistle (back) and Loves owner Anna Southwell with musicians Marvin Muoneke (left) and Alex Lipinski (right). Picture: Culture WestonCulture Weston's green champion Paula Birtwistle (back) and Loves owner Anna Southwell with musicians Marvin Muoneke (left) and Alex Lipinski (right). Picture: Culture Weston (Image: Archant)

When restrictions eased in the summer, Culture Weston presented a series of socially spaced and Covid-safe outdoor events - The Ballad Of Anchor Cove, This Crossing,  Loves Live On The Lawn and a Sprayjam with local street artists.

 The Memory Bank cultural heritage project and window installation in the Sovereign Centre showcased people’s memories and hopes for the town centre, while empty poster sites were enlivened with artwork by local artists in the Say Something poster campaign.

Weston Mercury: The Memory Bank window art installation with artist Megan Clark-Bagnall. Culture WestonThe Memory Bank window art installation with artist Megan Clark-Bagnall. Culture Weston (Image: Culture Weston)

Through this period, Theatre Orchard has created office premises in the top floor at Weston Artspace and is waiting to move into Front Room, an empty unit in the Sovereign Centre which will host Culture Weston and Theatre Orchard, provide a space for live, engagement sessions and act as a community hub for creative advice and information.

Going forward, Theatre Orchard wants to keep connected as an organisation and close-knit team of workers; to support community initiatives and continue to broker key relationships, including North Somerset Council, Weston Town Council and Weston Place Agency and establish new partnerships; to reach out to different community groups with creative offers and to support artist practitioners through employment opportunities, training and skills building.