News - Home Sweet Home: Through the Keyhole

Become a resident of Stratford-upon-Avon’s smallest suburb with a free upcoming live art installation at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)...

Press Release

Home Sweet Home celebrates individuality and community by asking people to join them in re-imagining Stratford-upon-Avon in their image. Flat-packed cardboard houses and plots of land in a miniature Stratford can be built, decorated, and placed around local landmarks, with participants choosing street names and functions of buildings for the community. From schools to night clubs, factories to cinemas, the town will be defined by the people who build it. Individuals, groups and families are all welcome, and the event is suitable for all ages. On the final afternoon there is a street party for neighbours where they can raise a glass and celebrate the formation of their own unique community.

Then, from Friday 8th February, the community becomes an exhibition, telling the stories behind the properties and how the town was built. Guests to the exhibition will be offered the opportunity to submit planning applications to build new buildings or change the use of the existing properties.

Home Sweet Home: Through the Keyhole is conceived and directed by Abigail Conway and Lucy Hayhoe. Abigail Conway is a visual artist and creator of live art. Abigail works with material objects, craft and actions to create playful site-specific installations and immersive encounters for audiences. Her work crosses many disciplines, including; sound and video design, music technology, nature, architecture and performance. Lucy Hayhoe is a live artist making installation based experiences and performances. Her work ranges from intimate encounters to large-scale installations. Hayhoe is interested in collective creation and open structures that encourage social engagement. She graduated from Goldsmiths College in 2006 where she studied Drama and Theatre Arts and is currently preparing to undertake an MA in Narrative Environments at Central Saint Martins in September 2017.

It runs in the PACCAR Room, second floor, Royal Shakespeare Theatre between 25-27 January 2019, then from 8 February. Open daily from 10am. Free. There are a limited number of properties, so it is recommended to book a ticket in advance. Properties can be made individually, in pairs or in groups.

Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon Find out more and book tickets on their website

Photo by Clara Molden via RSC website