COMMON SALT seasons Somerset Libraries

COMMON SALT seasons Somerset Libraries

Common Salt – a ‘show and tell’ performance around a table – begins a national tour this autumn with a chance to see it at three Somerset Libraries – Wells, Frome and Yeovil from this month.

Common Salt explores the colonial, geographical history of England and India taking an expansive and emotional time-travel, from the first Enclosure Act and the start of the East India Company in the 1600s, to 21st century narratives of trade, race and culture.

Common Salt has been specially developed for libraries and museums, and historic places with hidden histories and collections.  A small audience of up to 25 people per show (with two shows in each venue) sits around the table to watch Common Salt.

It activates insights into our shared past, laying out a ‘home museum’ of objects and stories; of the Great Hedge of India, of borders, and collections – all accompanied by original Shruti box laments.

Sue Palmer and Sheila Ghelani, who run the events, undertook months of research into the many threads that go into Common Salt, exploring the interconnectedness between history and global power, artefact and trade, race and memory, and to question the collective amnesia that seems to travel beside history.

This national tour builds on showings of Common Salt in 2018 where it was very well received by audiences, who called it ‘mesmerising’, ‘thought-provoking and poignant’, ‘powerful’ and ‘exquisitely crafted’. One audience member described it ‘as like reading a book in 3d real life’.

Common Salt is at three Somerset Libraries this autumn, in partnership with Somerset Libraries and Somerset Art Works.

  • Wells Library Somerset | Saturday 19th October | 11.00am & 2.00pm |

https://commonsaltatwellslibrary.eventbrite.co.uk

  • Frome Library Somerset | Saturday 9th November | 11.30am & 2.30pm |

https://commonsaltatfromelibrary.eventbrite.co.uk

  • Yeovil Library Somerset | Saturday 30th November | 11.30am & 2.30pm |

https://commonsaltatyeovillibrary.eventbrite.co.uk

Cllr David Hall, Cabinet Member with responsibility for libraries at Somerset County Council said: “It’s a real coup that such a nationally acclaimed event will be visiting three Somerset libraries this autumn. Funded by Arts Council England, it will be on a national tour through autumn 2019 to spring 2020 to museums, libraries and arts venues across the country, including the Queen’s House Royal Museums Greenwich, and The British Library – and our very own Wells, Yeovil and Frome libraries. If you are interested in attending, get in touch.”

Tickets are available online, with a limited number on sale at the library desk (cash only)

For further information and links to book tickets: http://www.inquilines.com/common-salt

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