Distant Voices 'Bridging the Void' Festival 1 - 11 Nov 2021

Distant Voices has refined and developed an understanding of the shape and scale of the 'void' that punishment creates; and of creative, prefigurative practices that might help 'bridge' the void. That was the key focus of this festival. 

Local contact: Prof Fergus McNeill

Woman at piano viewed from front, microphone visible

Festival Opening Gig: ‘Mapping the Void’

With Louis Abbott, Donna Maciocia, Tom Gibbs...& more!

At Glasgow’s iconic Chem19 studios, our project’s Creative Lead, Louis Abbott (Admiral Fallow) was joined by some special guest musicians to perform and discuss seven songs, co-written in Scottish prisons as part of Distant Voices.

Profile picture of Professor McNeill

Conversation 1: ‘Confronting the Void’

With Fergus McNeill & Phil Crockett Thomas

The first of three festival conversations, this session picked up where the first gig ended. It centred on what we have learned about how and why criminal justice, despite its better intentions, ‘dis-integrates’ people.

It also shared some examples of the creative work generated by the project to illustrate how people respond and resist.

Man washing dishes at sink by window, women standing near by

Conversation 2: ‘Foundations: Creative action, community-building and democratic life'

With Alison Urie & Oliver Escobar

In this second conversation, we reflected on how the approach we’ve developed can help us imagine a different future together, creating spaces for new connections and solidarities and richer forms of democratic life.

Woman playing guitar in a darkened room near a light window Premier showing: ‘A Giant on the Bridge’

Premier showing: ‘A Giant on the Bridge’

Performance by Solareye, Rachel Sermanni, Jill O’Sullivan, Jo Mango and Louis Abbott

This compelling combination of story and song interwove five unique perspectives on prison homecoming. 'A Giant on the Bridge' was a narrative gig written with people connected to the criminal justice system, devised by Jo Mango and award-winning theatre-maker Liam Hurley with research by Phil Crockett Thomas.

Close up of a woman singing into a mike, dark background and red light on face

Conversation 3: ‘Building Bridges’

With Lucy Cathcart Frödén, Jo Collinson Scott & Fergus McNeill

This conversation offered a chance to reflect on the themes explored in ‘A Giant on the Bridge’ and on the unique ways in which creative practices allowed these themes to be generated and drawn out.

Various people sitting inside a brightly lit studio, viewed from outside through the glass

Closing Gig: ‘Moving On Together’

With Louis Abbott, Donna Maciocia, Tom Gibbs & more!

Back where we began at Glasgow’s iconic Chem19 studios, and hosted again by Professor Fergus McNeill. Our project’s Creative Lead, Louis Abbott (Admiral Fallow), was joined by more special guest musicians to perform and discuss another seven songs from the project.

 

The 'Bridging the Void' festival is part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2021 and was made possible thanks to funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).