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.
“I was just heartbroken and satisfied within a matter of minutes.” – Audience quote
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.
“Profoundly moved by today’s R&D sharing of Arch, new work from @kaleider – I felt such a shared commitment to witness human effort.” – 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.
“The sharing 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
2024 International Tour.
Arch is on tour in 2024, including its international and UK premieres. See all tour dates here.
Gallery
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, 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.
Robbie Stamp
Bronwen Townsend
Charlie Tapp
Karl
Adam
Katherine Stevens
Lorna Rose
Hugh McCann
Nikki Milican
Jay Milling
Fee Hudson Francis
Richard Dufty
Clare Reddington
Anne Townsend
Jan W
Susie and Ian
Catherine Cartwright
Sammy Payne
Michael and Mary Vanderford
Lucy Cassidy
Kate McStraw
Giorgos Katsogridakis
Jo Verrent
Matthew Austin
Richard
Martin Zierold
Danielle Rose
Helen
Rupa
Isabelle Tracy
Ciara
Willmott Family
Christina Poulton
Evie Cotton
Rachel Twigg
Annette Mees
Jazlyn
Jo L
Stephen Hodge
Eliza
Mikey Martins
Micha Colombo
Viv Harris
Cathy K
Kate Yedigaroff
Gill Loats
Mel Scaffold
Lorna
Ruth Holdsworth
Rachel Chen
Sarah Dickenson
The B-J's
Gareth Keeler
Anna Piana
Daniel Pitt
Kate H
Ruairi Fullam
Claud
Katie Day
Nicky Lavery
Lizzie Philps
Maggi
Rebecca
Michelle Dickson
Lina B. Frank
Roger Watson
Tom Abba
Mair Bosworth
Bella Oenman
Emma Benning
Claire Stewart
Stevie
Bronwyn Purvis
Dom Kippin
Melissa B
Clare Robertson
Judith Lynes
Brent Birder
Sarah Branson
Cat Spector
Robert Frith
Sherlock Frith
Anwyn Frith
Quinn Frith
Stacey
Charlotte and Phil Corden
Sarah Kingswell
Adam Adler
Fiona R
Naomi Wright
Chow
Amy Woodhouse
Manvir
Fran
Annie Blanchette
Jude
Jacob Tomlinson
Sita Calvert - Ennals
Madeline Shann
Andy Wood
Alice
Nanook
Val
Karen Stamp
Emma Powell
Kathy Hinde
Herman Castaneda
Harry
Emma McFarland
Katie Villa
Varleys
Carolyn Winter
Mikala
Angela D
Guy N.
Neil Butler
Heather Pasfield
Marina O'Shea
Garry and Naomi Fabian Miller
Sud Basu
Natalie and Mike Stamp
Beth Brewer
Janet and Lou
Harriet
Elizabeth Connell
Irene Ank
Kate Pullinger
Laura Giles
Ann Dodson
Jenny
Nick Triggs
Anka Djordjevic
James Moore
John S
For Luke
Graeme Parish
Fanni
Eva Bubla
Nicki McCaskie
Mary Loveday
Christopher Badger
Janet Simoneaux
Jay
Michael Honnor
Anna Ollard
Nicky Birch
Gill Wildman
Hilary Knight
Kerry Honnor
All The Capybaras
Kazumi
Ricca Kawai and Fujiko Nakaya
Margaret Schroeder
RicaM
Amy Harting
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