What was it?
ISignal Fire (n): a fire or light set up in a prominent position as a warning, signal, or celebration
Kestrel Theatre Company joined some of the UK’s leading touring theatre companies, uniting in autumn 2020 to present Signal Fires, a nationwide project inspired by one of the original forms of theatre – storytelling around a fire.
Kestrel presented an evening of storytelling online. where four Kestrel alumnae, working with the writer Simon Longman created fictional stories that look at the experiences of finishing a prison sentence and the problems and possibilities of finding yourself in a new life. The collective piece was called AFTER TIME.
Presented at a time when it was not possible to physically tour, Kestrel joined with companies including, 45North, Boundless, Eastern Angles, English Touring Theatre, Fen in association with Out of Joint, Fuel, Graeae, Headlong, Hightide, Kneehigh, Macha Productions, National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, Paines Plough, SBC Theatre, Scottish International Storytelling Festival, Slung Low, Spare Tyre, The Lord Chamberlain’s Men and Yellow Earth Theatre united for the first time, to collectively tour a single idea.
Each company self-produced an evening of work – a signal fire – at a different location across the UK in celebration of our fundamental need to tell stories, in order to help make sense of the world around us and reimagine the future.
Signal Fires was an unprecedented project born out of unprecedented times. It has been incredibly inspiring and humbling to connect with so many different touring theatre companies.
— Holly Race Roughan, Artistic Director of Headlong Theatre
Audience Feedback
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That was the best thing I have seen or heard this year. We are totally overwhelmed. Seeing those men up there reading those stories.. well it moved me to tears. I wrote down two lines I felt were particularly moving – ‘I’m OK most of the time’ and ‘You can’t buy feeling safe’. Oscars for everyone
Juli, Audience member
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"Thank you for such a moving evening. Such beautiful and powerful storytellers. "
Emma, Audience member
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“The future is fireworks……colour in the darkness” wonderful work from the incredible Kestrel Theatre this evening. So inspiring to see the great art people are still able to create during lockdown."
Minnie, Irene Taylor Trust
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Absolutely wonderful work last night. Not just the feat of getting it all, seamlessly, on Zoom, but the words, and performances were mesmerising. Powerful. Moving. Memorable.
Audience member