Our Mossy Performance

The Mossy CarpetThe Mossy StoryWords and poetry

21 Nov

Written By The Art and Energy Collective

In October half term Art and Energy’s The Mossy Carpet was rolled out in the Nook at Theatre Royal Plymouth for a new collaboration with Far Flung C.I.C and the Sewcial Guild. An uplifting, sensory, collaborative performance which encouraged audiences to slow down, connect and think about the small and possible actions we can make together, to look after our environment.

Funded by Plymouth Octopus Project ’s POP Collectives we spent time sharing process and practice. We are excited to explore ways in which we can continue this work into 2025.

POP Collective funding, supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, focuses on the principles of participation and collaboration. This project certainly delivered on both those fronts!

Art and Energy’s Jenny had heard great things about Far Flung and Sewcial Guild but we’d never actually worked with them before, in fact when Jenny first reached out we hadn’t actually even met. Clare, Diane and Jenny quickly discovered a shared passion for community, environment, engagement, and the arts. We were thrilled to get a call from POP to confirm that our funding application had been successful.

“The POP collective offered a unique opportunity to learn new ways of engaging with our community. From Art and Energy we learnt how to connect with people of all ages in a gentle and creative way to tackle subjects around climate change, or subjects that can often be difficult and inaccessible. By creating a calm and welcoming space Art and Energy encouraged conversation through making and being on the carpet, this was activism in a restful and reflective process. It was a joy to witness and be a part of. Seeing audiences engage with the carpet was magical, people felt so relaxed - lying on it, children playing on it. it felt very Far Flung in its sensory nature and the company seemed to really relax into the process with Art and Energy and Sewcial Guild.”
Clare, Far Flung CIC

“Having to make costumes that carry an important environmental message such as the Mossy Carpet has imbued a greater sense of purpose to the process. I would do it again in a heartbeat!”

— Diane, The Sewcial Guild

“I so enjoyed working with the Far Flung and Sewcial Guild teams.
Diane was so inventive with the costumes, from a felted tardigrade hat, to meticulously crafted upcycled foam moss on the costumes.
Watching the Far Flung team develop the performance was just magic, I could see that they really enjoyed exploring Micha’s words, bringing a fun and playful approach which worked so well on the Mossy Carpet stage. Grace’s music added an element of magic.
Between performances we invited the audience to take off their shoes to explore The Mossy Carpet, to take a close look at tiny real mosses through a magnifier, and to make a mossy tuft to add to the artwork, the audience particularly enjoyed this interactive invitation to join in.
Having displayed the first 30 metres of the carpet there in November 2023, it felt very appropriate to be back at Theatre Royal Plymouth.
We’re now actively seeking opportunities to work together again, to further develop and share the performance with more people”
Jenny, Art and Energy

A big thank you to Sewcial Guild and Far Flung CIC for taking a crazy creative leap with us, to Micha Columbo for entrusting us with your beautiful story, to the audience for joining us on this mossy adventure, to TRP for hosting us, and to POP for making this whole thing possible!