Online communities to see premiere of Earth Echoes - a creative journey into the history of planet earth

On Tuesday 27 September at 9.15am, online communities will be watching Earth Echoes - a creative journey into the history of planet earth - via English Riviera Geopark  Opens in a new window False.

Earth Echoes is performed by members of the English Riviera Global Geopark alongside alongside Hugh Nankivell, Mark Laville, the GeoCollective, Doorstep Arts and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO).

This is a wonderful opportunity to see a unique piece of theatre which will be streamed live into homes and schools across Geopark communities.
Gordon Oliver, Elected Mayor of Torbay, said: “The artists in our English Riviera Global Geopark have an international reputation for their outstanding work, developing new music and theatre inspired by geology. Earth Echoes promises to be a truly outstanding performance. I urge all our communities and schools to go online to watch it live along with international delegates from the Geoparks community”.

Lisa Tregale, Head of BSO Participation, said: “Earth Echoes is such a great example of how music and the Arts can bring communities together to tell a personal story. The BSO are delighted to be involved in this project and cannot wait for the final performance.”

Earth Echoes is a dramatic musical story of geology and the history of our planet. The premiere will open the 7th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks, when over 700 delegates from around the world convene in Torbay. It will tell the fascinating story of our planet through voice, music, performance and multimedia.

Guided by a team of geologists, performers will travel through time and space and into the bowels of the earth. They discover how the continents form and change and track life from earliest earth to complexity of the life we know today.
There will also be a section on the great extinctions which reflects on where human activities started to have a significant global impact on Earth's geology and ecosystems.

This one-off performance will not be available for catch-up, so clear your diary and make sure you are ready to watch it live! Tune into the live stream online at www.englishrivierageopark.org.uk on Tuesday 27 September 2016, from 9.15am to 10am.

In September 2016, over 700 delegates representing the Global Geoparks, senior UNESCO officials, scientists, policy makers and government representatives from all over the globe will gather in Torquay on the English Riviera. The conference brings together experts from Science Education, Sustainable Economic Development, Community Engagement and the conservation of Earth’s landscapes and Heritage.

The conference theme of Health and Well Being through Creative and Active Engagement will emphasise how Global Geoparks can lead the way in local, national and transnational wellbeing.

Stay tuned at 10am for the opening addresses, including renowned geologist Iain Stewart MBE, BBC presenter and Patron of the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark. The Earth Echoes programme, along with learning materials for key stages 2, 3 and 4, will be available online.

Earth Echoes has been funded by Arts Council England, Torbay Council, the English Riviera Global Geopark, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Torbay Music Hub.

If you would like further information regarding attending the event please email angela.cappello@torbay.gov.uk

Notes to editors

The English Riviera Global Geopark successfully bid for the 7th International Conference on Global Geoparks with the support of Torbay Council, Torbay Development Agency, Plymouth University, Exeter University, The Geological Society, British Geological Survey, English Geodiversity Forum, Natural England, Arts Council England, Natural History Museum and Flybe.

The conference takes place every two years and has previously been staged in China (2004), Northern Ireland (2006), Germany (2008), Malaysia (2010), Japan (2012) and Canada (2014.) 2016 will be the first occasion that the conference takes place in Great Britain.

There are seven Global Geoparks in the UK, out of a total UNESCO network of one hundred and twenty spread over 33 countries. A Geopark is concerned with conservation of natural heritage, sustainable economic development, promotion of science education and community engagement.

• www.ggn2016.com
• English Riviera Geopark  Opens in a new window False
  
• www.unesco.org.uk

Doorstep Arts

Doorstep Arts is a community interest company based in Torbay. They run 7 participatory drama groups at key accessible doorstep sites across Torbay providing opportunities for children and young people to access a high-quality arts provision.

Doorstep Arts produces the Doorstep Theatre Festival (autumn and spring annually), bringing exceptional touring performances of national repute to Torbay, and catalysing the creation of original performance pieces by local artists, many young emerging artists. They nurtures small arts organisations based in the SW, to generate new opportunities for high-quality participatory work from a range of young emerging organisations.

Arts Council England

Arts Council England champion, develop and invest in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people's lives. They support activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to digital art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Between 2015 and 2018, they will invest £1.1 billion of public money from government and an estimated £700 million from the National Lottery to help create art and culture experiences for everyone, everywhere.

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

BSO is one of the UK’s busiest orchestras, reaching around 5,000 concert-goers per week across 35 venues and across 10,000 square miles of the UK. BSO’s Education and Participation programme aims to ensure that everyone, irrespective of circumstance, has the opportunity to experience its world-class music. Working across the South West region, the BSO organises a variety of activities from inspirational workshops in schools to special performances in care homes.