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4 Jun 2010 13:32:35
The University of Bedfordshire is helping local people enjoy a perfect summer’s afternoon this month in quintessential English surroundings.
Students and staff are performing at the revamped Queen Anne’s Summerhouse on the Shuttleworth Estate at Old Warden in Mid Beds.
Two 30-minute shows are planned on Saturday, 12 June, at 12.30pm and 2pm as part of The Landmark Trust’s open day event.
As well as the outdoor performances of dance, music and theatre, there is free admission to the house on the day for visitors who are being actively encouraged to bring a picnic. Parking for the event is available at Shuttleworth College.
Ten dance and theatre students are taking part, along with various members of staff, in addition to professional musicians from the University-sponsored Symphonia Academica orchestra.
Staff from the Division of Performing Arts and English will be creating performance work with students, and costumes will be designed by students from the Department of Art and Design. The orchestra will be providing music from the early 18th century, when the summerhouse is believed to have been first built.
Organiser and Senior Lecturer in Dance, James Hewison, said: “It will be an enjoyable extra-curricular activity for everyone involved, but the project also serves as a research informed teaching (RiT) project for colleagues including John Stephens (Head of Department of Art and Design) and Helen Bailey (Head of the Division of Performing Arts and English).
“Senior Lecturer in Theatre, Mike Carter, is writing text for the piece, and the student performers are being invited to write and reflect on their participation as part of their membership of the Division of Performing Arts and English’s Junior Research Institute (JRI) initiative.
“Our aim is to celebrate the history, architecture and physical setting of the house, and especially its role as a place for enjoying the great outdoors. Hopefully the weather will be kind to us!”
The University was initially contacted by The Landmark Trust which is the charitable organisation responsible for the year-long restoration project of Queen Anne’s Summerhouse.
An early 18th century folly, it was left derelict after the Second World War before its renovation was completed in September 2009 when the house, which is surrounded by beautiful woodland, opened its doors to its first visitors.
The Landmark Trust is a building preservation charity, established 45 years ago, which rescues historic and architecturally interesting buildings and their surroundings from neglect.
When restored, it aims to give them new life by letting them as places to experience for holidays. The letting income generated from holiday bookings then pays for the future maintenance of the buildings.
For further details on the Landmark Trust, visit www.landmarktrust.org.uk
Latest news» 2010» June» Enjoy flaming June with Uni's staff and students
