Northern Imperial War Museum Visit

On the 12th of November, Individually as a theatre maker, I visited the Northern Imperial War Museum in Salford, Manchester. With a whole section dedicated to ‘Women in War’, showcasing their complex individual narratives within that, this propelled me to think about a woman’s place in war and how we can relay those varied aspects into our piece. As a company comprised of 5 males and one female, representing the importance of a woman's role in war, was just as important to us as that of men. From visiting this museum, it thoroughly enforced that aspect, while also relaying visually complex and inspiring aesthetics.

For instance, in relation to our ideas about projection, this museum represented a cleverly atmospheric and immersive exploration of that. Everyone in the room just stopped and witnessed a completely transformed space; with letters and scenes of war projected onto the walls, we were immersed in a telling of war by an overhead voice. This ability to completely transform a space is something we aim to explore as a company. Therefore this visit to me, became an integral part in developing ideas around scenography, aesthetic and ultimately, character narrative.

Lana