Solway to Svalbard
Solway to Svalbard is an immersive, multi-artform response to the spring migration of barnacle geese, from the wetlands of the Solway Firth in South West Scotland to the Islands of Svalbard in the High Arctic. The project captures the different environments and communities that are encountered by the geese on their unique journey and how, despite the distance and stark contrast in landscape, we are intrinsically linked to the polar regions and to the natural world.
Musician and composer Stuart Macpherson, film maker Emma Dove and sound recordist Pete Smith, journeyed with the geese on their migration capturing footage and sound of the geese, and interviews with local people about their relationship to the geese and environment. In Solway to Svalbard they meld these incredible recordings with an original and evocative score written in response to their migration through these landscapes and performed by six musicians with first person, direct to audience, story telling about the perspective shifting journey.
Created over the course of five years, enabled by support from Creative Scotland, PRS Foundation, Help Musicians UK, Tenk Traena AiR, Galleri Svalbard, DG Arts Live, The Stove Network, DGU and the National Theatre of Scotland’s Engine Room programme.
Performance images © Ruari Barber-Fleming
Lead Artist & Composer - Stuart Macpherson
Location Recording & Sound Design - Pete Smith
Cinematography & Editing - Emma Dove
Director & Dramaturg - Davey Anderson
Additional Camera & Sound - Stuart Macpherson
Lighting Designer - Michaella Fee
BSL interpretation - Yvonne Strain
Colour Grading - Jamie Quantrill
Violin - Megan Henderson
Cello - Beth Porter
Double Bass - Stuart Macpherson
Piano - Fergus McCreadie
Percussion - Ian Sandilands
Drums - Calum Macintyre
Producer - Anna Hodgart
Production Manager - Sarah Wilson
Sound and Projection Technician - Gordon McGregor
Q Lab Programmer - Keir Martin
Design - Kirsty Geddes
Production Film & Photography - Ruari Barber-Flemming
Equipment supplied by GBR
Norwegian Translation by Screen Language
Featuring the voices of:
Larry Griffin
Brian Morrell
Rosie Rutherford
Heidi Pederson
Alex Selvær
Aud Selvær
Torfund Selvær
Trygve Selvær
Melissa Berl
Kine Hokholt Bjelland
Hilde Henningsen
Kim Holmén
Christianne Hübner
Thanks to:
The Stove Network
National Theatre of Scotland
Glasgow Clyde College
WWT Caerlaverock
DMC
Loreburn Hall
Tenk Træna