Travel Light: Power. People. Pepper. [Video]

Introducing our Winter Solstice presentation: Travel Light: Power. People. Pepper.

This exciting new commission, made possible by the PRS Foundation Talent Development Network (TDN) with support from PPL and Arts Council England, unites an extraordinary collective of artists. Featuring talented musicians, poets, and innovative sound and lighting designers, the project is guided by the visionary composer and music director, Christella Litras.

Prepare for an unforgettable evening of creativity and collaboration as these diverse voices come together to illuminate the Winter Solstice with a powerful and evocative performance.
Our aim is to celebrate John Smeaton, a Leeds-born pioneer of Civil Engineering and his intention to create work for the public good.

John Smeaton designed and built the Eddystone Lighthouse, which operated from 1759 to 1877. Travel Light draws inspiration from the language of lighthouses, translating it into sounds that evoke journeys from the past to the present. It explores the impact of lighthouses on world trade, including spices, gems, gold, and the tragic history of human trafficking.

This ensemble of creatives weaves together words, sounds, melodies, and rhythms to narrate a journey from Leeds to Plymouth, along the Spanish coast, down the west coast of Africa, around the Cape of Good Hope, past Madagascar, and up to the west coast of India. The music reflects themes of power, people, hope, dreams, displacement, and the perils of uncharted journeys across sea and land.

Join us for an immersive experience that promises to move you both individually and collectively.

Meet the artists:
Christella Litras- Composer, Music Director, Arranger
Deepa Shakthi- Vocalist and co-composer – specialist in North and Sound Indian Music
Olivia Cuttill- Trumpet/Brass/ Clarinet/ Flute/Oboe player
Mohinder Singh (Mendi)- Tabla Player and Multi-percussionist
Thandanani Emmanuel Gumede- South African Vocalist
Temiloluwa Abiodun-Ade- Multi Percussionist and Instrumentalist
Rafael Onyett- Spanish Guitar
Michelle Scally Clarke- Poet and Spoken Word Artist
Rubina Warsi- Poet and Spoken Word Artist
Phenicia Williams- Background Soundscapes
Aniysa Alleyne- Projectionist

SAA-uk is a PRS Foundation Talent Development Network Partner supported by PPL.
Supported by Chapel FM, Foxglove & Music House.
South Asian Arts-uk (SAA-uk) is a registered charity that was set up in 1997 by Ustad Dharambir Singh MBE to preserve the art of South Asian classical music and dance. The organisation was designed to pass down its love of the South Asian arts to the next generations through performances, community events and a complex education programme.

South Asian Arts-uk (SAA-uk) is a registered charity that was set up in 1997 by Ustad Dharambir Singh MBE to preserve the art of South Asian classical music and dance. The organisation was designed to pass down its love of the South Asian arts to the next generations through performances, community events and a complex education programme.

🙏Support us
→ https://www.saa-uk.org/

🌎 Follow SAA-uk
→ https://saa-uk.org/
→ https://www.facebook.com/
→ https://www.instagram.com/
→ https://twitter.com/southasianartuk

Show your support to freelance artists and our charitable cause through this difficult time. Please consider becoming a regular donor or making a one-off donation today though our website.