Storm-Cloud: Thrown into Form

Storm-Cloud: Thrown into Form is a visually arresting immersive experience in a former steel factory. It has been created in response to the text of Victorian polymath John Ruskin’s 1884 lecture, ‘Storm-Cloud of the Nineteenth Century’. Featuring the text from Ruskin’s lecture alongside found material, and accompanied by digital projection and a unique soundscape that together conjure a striking atmosphere of environmental dis-ease.

Developed by an interdisciplinary team led by director and performer Dr Tom Payne, with dramaturgical focus by Terry O’Connor, and presented as a special one-off performance at the G-Mill for No Bounds Festival 2024. This event features movement direction by Robia Milliner, and performances by Dr Tom Payne, Debbie Armour, Fadumo Hassan, and Ra’Siah; alongside original composition by David John Brady, motion design by Jake Goodall, illustrations by Billy Hughes and Penny McCarthy, photography by Becky Payne, digital media by Richard Mather and Anne Doncaster, and archival research by Ashley Gallant. With additional research by Ella Barrett as part of SADACCA’s community archive, The Bantu Archive Programme, and with support from SADACCA community consultant, Rob Cottrell.

Storm-Cloud is a collaborative arts-science programme exploring Ruskin’s prophetic public lecture within the context of the climate and ecological emergency. On 4 February 1884, Ruskin delivered his controversial lecture highlighting the disastrous results of nineteenth-century industrialisation, the human impact on the environment, and the effects of air pollution, a ‘plague-wind’ on our health. This performance has received funding from The Guild of St. George, UK EONS and Sheffield Hallam University. Project partners also include Sheffield Museums, Space Hub Yorkshire, Invisible Dust, Sheffield and District African Caribbean Community Association (SADACCA), Ark Sheffield, and The Green Estate Community Interest Company. Supported with mentoring from Tim Etchells (Forced Entertainment).

Part of a series of commissions for No Bounds Festival 2024 entitled Entanglement, Commons and Cultural Mycelium from curator and producer Amy Carter Gordon. Associate producer: Lauren McConnell.

Venue: G-Mill at SADACCA

Doors open: 6:30pm

Doors closed: 6:50pm

Running time: 7:00pm - 8:15pm

Travelling by car: The closest car park to SADACCA is Windrush Way Car Park. Please note that very limited car parking spaces are available and therefore we highly recommend that audience members avoid travelling by car if possible.

Host or Publisher No Bounds Festival 2024