Standing Ovations for Fire in the North Sky

“A fantastic piece of work” “Terrific.  Very powerful” “Compelling”

Audience Feedback   June and July have provided really exciting times for Adverse Camber, we’ve been working with the creative team for Fire in the North Sky: Epic Tales from Finland in preparation for the show’s première performance in Wales and for a national tour in 2015. Three of Finland’s finest musicians, Kristiina Ilmonen, Anna-Kaisa Liedes and Timo Väänänen flew from Helsinki to join leading UK storyteller (and Adverse Camber favourite), Nick Hennessey, Director Paula Crutchlow and the Adverse Camber production team for an intensive two weeks of preparations plus two première performance at Beyond the Border International Storytelling Festival (who co-commissioned Fire in the North Sky with Adverse Camber and mac birmingham). Thanks to Sage Gateshead and mac birmingham’s support with amazing staff, facilities and expertise, Fire in the North Sky was able to benefit from and flourish in world-class surroundings!  The rehearsals and previews for invited guests allowed the team to develop an "astonishing performance" (as described by Charlotte Jackson, student reviewer). We worked with the material, lighting techniques, sounds, movement, ways to involve audiences, wonderful archive and contemporary photographs and gathered vital audience and venue feedback.  We interviewed the artists, Director and audience members, plus we tried out the immersive effects of some special aromas and delicacies to create a flavour of Finnish culture. It was great to witness the chemistry and interplay between the artists and the fantastic working relationship they have developed.  It was also great to meet lots of different audience members and make connections, all of which will be essential to the success of the show on tour next year and beyond. We’ll be sharing performance and behind the scenes video clips soon, so watch this space! Fire in the North Sky’s première performance, played to a packed Beyond the Border Festival Big Top audience of around 400 people and received a resounding standing ovation - all the hard work had undeniably paid off!!  The Big Top was filled with laughter, astonishment, sorrow and open-mouthed wonder, as episodes from the Kalevala were brought to life with songs, stories, music and drama. After the blazing heat of Sunday’s show on the Chapter Arts stage, we were delighted for a second time when the performance brought the audience to their feet once again. So now it’s on with the preparations for touring next year!  Sign up to our email list and we’ll keep you posted with tour dates and more.  Also, don’t forget to like us on Facebook for up to the minute information and to join in and share news. A huge thank you to Arts Council England for their support of this commissioning and rehearsal process and to everyone involved in making it possible.