“This wind is the plague-wind of the eighth decade of years in the nineteenth century; a period which will assuredly be recognized in future meterological history as one of phenomena hitherto unrecorded in the courses of nature”
Originating in Sheffield, Storm-Cloud: Observations of the Sky, a brooding and visually arresting performance, comes to the Playhouse. This contemporary staging of John Ruskin’s prophetic public lecture ‘Storm-Cloud of the Nineteenth Century’ (1884) is performed and directed by Dr Tom Payne, with motion design by Jake Goodall, photography by Becky Payne, original composition by David John Brady, illustration by Billy Hughes and Penny McCarthy, dramaturgical focus by Terry O’Connor, digital media production by Anne Doncaster and Richard Mather, and archival research by Ashley Gallant.
Ruskin’s controversial lecture highlighted the disastrous results of nineteenth-century industrialisation, the human role in climate change, and the effects of air pollution, ‘a plague-wind’, on our health. This unique version of Ruskin’s lecture introduces Storm-Cloud, an interdisciplinary arts-led programme of climate-focused research, performance, and exhibition, featuring Storm-Cloud: Thrown into Form, a powerful and immersive reimagining of Ruskin’s lecture that is set to premiere at the G-Mill for No Bounds Festival in October. Click here for more information.
Storm-Cloud: Observations of the Skyispresented with support from Sheffield Theatres. The Storm-Cloud programme is led by Dr Tom Payne in partnership with Sheffield Museums, Sheffield Hallam University, Invisible Dust, No Bounds Festival, The Green Estate Community Interest Company, Sheffield and District African Caribbean Community Association, Space Hub Yorkshire, and The Guild of St. George.
Storm-Cloud is receiving ongoing mentoring from Tim Etchells, Artistic Director, Forced Entertainment.
Storm-Cloud: Observations of the Skycomes to the PlayhouseonWednesday 19 June. Tickets can be booked through the Box Office in person, over the phone on 0114 249 6000, or at the link below.
