Sound installation on coming to terms with sexual assault

A sound installation about coming to terms with sexual assault will be shared with the public at The Station, on January 20-22, as part of the research and development process.

The work was created in partnership with Theatre Royal Plymouth, RashDash and the Creative Youth Network, supported by Arts Council England funding.

Alongside the immersive experience of Séance, which will be listened to on headphones, there will be an accompanying exhibition of poetry, writing and stories called Coven curated from an open call for lived experiences of sexual harrassment, assault and abuse.

Séance writer Eleanor Hope-Jones shared some insights with Bristol 24/7 about the two events, and the relationship between them.

How did the idea of Séance originate?

“Séance originated from a lived experience of a sexual assault that I didn’t have time to process when it happened. When the pandemic hit I had lots of time to think and feel about it. I found myself getting angry, sad and frustrated at how other people and myself had responded to it. So I started writing.”

The subject matter explores sexual assault, and the ‘forced self-discovery’ that follows it. How can a creative journey help survivors of sexual violence in coming to terms with their personal trauma?

“I can’t speak for anyone else’s experience but for me it’s all about narrative. Society has a set number of narratives it applies to people who’ve experienced sexual violence. But when you write your own, you begin to find the narrative that makes sense of it. You take back control of your experience.”

The sound installation, heard through headphones, is a very powerful and intimate one – as is the small groups of seven who will be listening. What made these artistic choices particularly resonant with the world that Séance explores?

“Séance explores the idea of speaking, being witnessed and listened to. A traditional séance – where a group of people sit in a circle and look at invisible spirits – felt like an interesting concept to reflect that theme. There’s also something about the intimacy and ceremony of a séance – when conversations about sexual assault are usually private and stigmatised.”

What are your hopes for what the experience might achieve for those that come to this, and future iterations?

“I hope people feel a little more able to talk about sexual assault. More than anything, I hope anyone who has experienced sexual assault feels less alone. I think theatre is one of the most powerful ways we can do that.”

What do you anticipate the poetry of Coven will do to illuminate the experience of Séance?

“Séance is my story how I wanted to tell it, and Coven is asking people if and how they want to tell their story. It communicates just how common sexual assault is, and that despite all these stories being completely different, we are not alone in them. We’re working with a brilliant visual artist called Katy Drake to really honour how we present and share those stories.”

You are intending to include all the submissions of poetry and stories. Do you have an expectation for the diversity and magnitude of the responses?

“It’s impossible to tell how many people will want to share their poetry or stories. It’s a deeply personal decision whether writing about your experience is the right path for you. But when we share the opportunity certain people have a steely look in their eye and start asking questions about contributing. It feels like they’ve been waiting for this space to tell their story.”

There is a lot of courage underpinning these submissions. How would you sum up the power of writing in coming to terms with sexual assault, abuse or harassment?

“In my experience, the power comes from the writing being yours. You control the narrative, you create something new, and you tell your complete truth.

“Then sometimes there’s a beautiful, painful joy in realising you’re writing is someone else’s truth as well. An experience that was completely isolating can actually connect you to someone else.”

After the event, there is the potential to take Coven and Séance on tour. Are you planning any follow-up for the people brought together through inclusion in the exhibition?

“We think it’s important to follow the lead and take care of the people this work impacts. That means providing a space to step out of the exhibition if needed. It means honouring the contributors’ words, and asking everyone who sees or participates in the project what they’d like it to become.”

Coven – photo: courtesy of Gabi Spiro and Eleanor Hope-Jones

Séance (age recommendation 14+) is at The Station, Silver St, Bristol, BS1 2AG on January 20-22, at multiple times. Information and tickets are available at www.eventbrite.co.uk.

Accompanying Séance, Coven is free to attend and open to the public at The Station on January 21 from 10am-8.30pm and on January 22 from 10am-6.30pm. The call out for contributions is open until January 19 at 5pm.

Main photo: Gabi Spiro and Eleanor Hope-Jones

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