Liverpool’s Pioneering Physical Fest Launches With Powerful Celtic Folklore Tale
Liverpool’s international physical theatre festival – Physical Fest – will return to the city this summer, launching with a brand new and ambitious production at the Everyman.
Organisers Tmesis Theatre are delighted to be launching the 2023 edition of Physical Fest with SealSkin – a show combining highly skilled physicality, Scottish folklore, and live music – running from 29 June to 1 July.
Founded in 2005, Physical Fest is a renowned Liverpool-based festival, and one of only two dedicated physical theatre festivals in the UK. It attracts participants from all over the world, in a celebration of diverse performances, workshops, talks and debates.
SealSkin will feature a global ensemble of performers from Liverpool, the USA, Spain and Portugal, with AV design from digital artist Noel Jones and music performed live from Northwest acoustic folk duo, Me and Deboe.
Blending rhythmic folk musings with delicately woven harmonies, Me + Deboe’s energetic and intricate compositions have captivated audiences across the UK, Europe and the USA.
“There are no tricks here [with] the duo’s driving riffs and sumptuous vocal harmonies effortlessly intertwined to devastating effect.” – Tom Robinson, BBC 6 Music
The world premiere of SealSkin at the Everyman Theatre this summer centres on the selkies – mythical beings found throughout Scottish folklore. A fisherman who witnesses the creatures “remove their seal skin to dance, freely and wildly in the moonlight, as humans” is entranced by the selkies and steals one of their skins, which is where the story begins.
Elinor Randle, Artistic Director of Tmesis and Physical Fest, said “SealSkinis a story of betrayal, power, identity, otherness and loss enveloped in a battle of longing and belonging. It’s the perfect way to launch our festival this year and we’re delighted to be teaming up Me + Deboe on this unique show.”
SealSkin – funded by Arts Council England and Liverpool City Council – runs from 29th June to 1st July 2023 at the Everyman Theatre, Hope Street, Liverpool as part of Physical Fest. Tickets are on sale now via the Everyman website.
The full line-up for Physical Fest – taking place from 29 June to 7 July 2023 will be revealed soon. For more info visit physicalfest.com.
