A free outdoor dance production featuring three men and a full-sized Ford Orion is coming to Yeovil town centre as part of this year’s Super Saturday event.
RIDE, presented by ZoieLogic Dance Company, will be performed for the public at 11.30am and 2pm on September 19. The shows are part of a new community initiative supported by Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grants and delivered in partnership with The Octagon Theatre and Westlands Entertainment Venue.
A week of free performances across Somerset
The Yeovil appearance will bring the project’s week-long Somerset tour to a close. Before arriving in the town, RIDE is scheduled to visit four other community venues:
- Wadham School in Crewkerne on September 15
- Ark at Egwood in Merriott on September 16
- The Maker’s Place in Ash on September 17
- Pyrland School in Taunton on September 18
The production is described as a “playful and physically daring reimagining of the classic summer road trip”. Its use of a full-sized Ford Orion forms part of a performance designed to bring professional dance directly to local audiences.
Who the project aims to reach
The initiative is intended to make live dance available in community settings and to encourage people who may not usually attend traditional arts venues to take part. The organisers said invited communities would include veterans, young people in alternative provision, adults facing challenges with their mental health, secondary school students and the general public.
“Receiving this funding is a significant achievement and recognition of the importance of finding new ways to connect people with the arts.”
Zoie Golding MBE, artistic director at ZoieLogic, said the project would allow the company to explore touring that is more responsive to communities, creating cultural opportunities in places and for people often overlooked by traditional touring models.
Katherine Beverley, arts engagement and outreach manager for Westlands and The Octagon, said the venues were delighted to bring ZoieLogic back to Somerset. She described the Yeovil performances as an opportunity for local residents to watch, be inspired by and engage with live performance on their doorsteps.
Admission to both Yeovil performances will be free. The event will form part of Super Saturday in Yeovil town centre, giving residents and visitors two opportunities to see the company’s outdoor show during the day.
