Arch is an attempt to build a freestanding arch, made two thirds of concrete and one third of ice.

Deceptive in its simplicity, Arch unfolds as a surprising emotional journey. An exquisite combination of breath, heart, and muscle entangle with the perpetual inevitability of collapse.

“Time stood still  when Kaleider performed the piece ‘Arch’ last night. 🧊 🔥 A truly magical experience.” – Aarhus Festuge

Touching audiences with themes of death, renewal, and hope, Arch points towards the extraordinary, yet flawed, systems humans create: language, economies, architectures, democracies – and, inevitably, to the impact of these systems on our ecological system, and on ourselves.

Known for building temporary communities in his work, Director Seth Honnor creates a world of human endeavour, hope, and loss. Arch gathers our minds and hearts, inviting us to bear witness to something we cannot command. Like in Seth’s other work, Arch gently asks questions of all of us, of our roles and our responsibilities.

“Arch invites you to be present with it, and in the slowing down to be with it – your imagination, thoughts and feelings become a part of the experience.” – Audience quote

In what could be described as a kind of “installation opera,” a languageless score by Verity Standen holds and moves us through a relentlessly physical performance; at times meditative, and at others arresting and highly charged.

We can tell you what happens in this work: you will witness two people attempt to build a freestanding arch in ice and concrete whilst a beguiling vigil of voices holds your attention. What is less straightforward is to tell you how it will make you feel – only that it will.

“Yesterday will be one of the highlights of my time at the [National Theatre] studio and something I’ll remember for the rest of my life!

It was utterly captivating second to second, and theatre in its cleanest and most profound distillation.” – Rachel Twigg, Head of Studio, National Theatre Studio

Arch 2024 Tour Diary

Arch premiered in 2024 to 9 sites across 7 countries, including: the summit of a mountain, a busy city centre square, the stage of a regional theatre, a residential block, and a vast beach on the Northern Sea.

Find out more in this photo blog, published by In Situ, the European platform for artistic creation in public space:

Go To Photo Blog

Available for Touring

Would you like to bring Arch to your festival, venue, context, or site in 2025/26? Please write to Executive Producer Katie Keeler at katie@kaleider.com for more information.

Gallery

Credit: Nichon Glerum

Credit: Nichon Glerum

Access

Click on the following links to download the documents:

Easy Read in pdf

Easy Read in Word

Audio Description in mp3

Audio Description in Word

Arch will be different each time it is presented. We are very happy to customise access documents for each promotor’s venue, location and language.

Credits

Arch is a Kaleider Production

Conceived and Directed by Seth Honnor

Executive Producer: Katie Keeler

Musical Director: Verity Standen

Dramaturg: Tanuja Amarasuriya

Movement Consultant: Laila Diallo

Lighting Designer: Nao Nagai

Production Manager: Jay Kerry

Producers: Irene Urrutia, Jocelyn Mills

Performers: Aminita Francis, David Ridley, Ellian Showering, Irene Urrutia, Kate Huggett, Kate Smith, Katie Keeler, Miryam Solomon, Nao Nagai, Phil King, Seth Honnor, Verity Standen

Arch is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Arch research and development is supported by IN SITU, the European platform for artistic creation in public space, in the frame of the project UN(COMMON) SPACES, co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union, and supported by Freedom Festival Arts Trust.

Arch was developed with the support of the National Theatre’s Generate programme.

Arch is co-commissioned by Theater op de Markt.

Citizen Commissioners

Arch is backed by individual donors who supported Kaleider to make and bring this artwork into the world.

Add yourself or a loved one to this incredible list of Citizen Commissioners, starting at just £10

The Money has been performed on 5 continents…

…and in some of the world’s most prestigious venues including Sydney Opera House, UK Houses of Parliament, Lagos City Hall, Lisbon City Hall, Melbourne’s Victoria Parliament, City of London’s Guildhall, London’s County Hall, Tianjin’s Grand Theatre and many more.