Our Future is Ancient

Barnaby Bright presents Our Future is Ancient by Not Quite Light in celebration of the summer solstice

Barnaby Bright is a collection of midsummer events that will take place this June around the summer solstice in the historic spaces of Macclesfield town centre, brought to you by the team at Barnaby Festival.

Our Future is Ancient is a multimedia piece of work inspired by Macclesfield Forest, by Salford-based artist Simon Buckley who works under the name of Not Quite Light.

Our Future is Ancient forms three parts; a performance of words and live music; an exhibition of film and images and a walking tour of the ginnels in Macclesfield to bring the forest into the town.

On Saturday June 19 Simon will perform a spoken word piece in St Michael’s Church, against the backdrop of a film and visuals that he has created in response to visiting Macclesfield Forest. 

Simon began visiting Macclesfield Forest in December 2019 to coincide with the winter solstice. He documented his visits every month for one year to capture words and images around the dawn of the full moon. He has also written music to accompany the visuals.

His visits have taken him on a journey no one expected, at the time of a global pandemic, when lockdowns saw him make visits, which were more like pilgrimages.

Our Future is Ancient explores themes of nature, isolation, fear, violence, solace, the passing of time, the seasons, and the winter and summer solstice.

Rioghnach Connolly who performs with groups The Breath and Honeyfeet and cellist Liz Hanks will be presenting stand alone pieces of music to accompany the performance as well as providing incidental music to enhance the ambience.

Simon says: “I have discovered so much about nature during this past year and it has been an experience I could never have imagined.  There is magic in the forest.

“Trees are thought to emit sound around 220hz which is equivalent to the key of A. The musicians will perform in the key of A, inspired by the trees.

“Alongside the magic there is realism too. At times I have been fearful and Our Future is Ancientexplores my fears of living in the city and of being in the forest. Nature can be as harsh as mankind.”

In addition to the performance a short film Our Future is Ancient will be shown in the historic Savage Chapel Tower in St Michael’s Church in Macclesfield. 

The film explores similar themes and captures the year of visits to the forest, which are punctuated by the passing of each month with the dawn of the full moon. 

The Savage Chapel Tower was once the home of an anchoress and visitors will experience that solitude, as the film will be shown to individuals who will be asked to sit alone in the chapel to watch the film.

Simon will also be conducting a walk through and around the ginnels of Macclesfield town centre where some of the images that he has taken of the forest over the past eighteen months will be projected.

Simon says: “We are bringing the forest into the town. Macclesfield has great heritage and architecture and the ginnels are curious spaces. The walks will reveal the images alongside the experience of making this piece of work.”

Our Future is Ancient is one of a collection of midsummer events for Barnaby Bright brought to you by the team at Barnaby Festival.

A small range of merchandise such as prints from Our Future is Ancient will be available to buy at the events.

Co chair of Barnaby Festival, Dr Abi Gilmore, says: “Barnaby Bright is a moment where we can turn our heads towards the sun and enjoy cultural experiences again. Thanks to Simon Buckley’s work we can also reflect on the moon too. This looks set to be a truly magical experience and one not to miss.”

All events will be delivered with measures in place to comply with Covid 19 restrictions. Social distancing will be monitored carefully. Tickets can be bought on Barnaby Festival’s website.

Events
Our Future is Ancient: Performance of words and live music
Saturday June 19, St Michael’s Church at 8pm

Our Future is Ancient: Exhibition in The Savage Chapel
On Saturday June 19 and Sunday June 20
On Saturday June 26 and Sunday June 27

Our Future is Ancient: Forest comes to Town Guided Walk
Sunday June 20 
Monday June 21