Wingbeats - Words & Music for Two Operas Inspired by the East Riding of Yorkshire: Flight Paths & Amy's Last Dive
Wingbeats is the result of a two-year cultural project, inspired by the wonder of flight, which brought together international and UK artists, school children, students and residents of Yorkshire’s East Riding to create two ambitious operas, performed in Leeds and Bridlington. Flight Paths (2011) is the story of a Leeds girl’s rollercoaster journey from Bempton Cliffs to Flamborough on a midsummer’s day, and how it turns her life around. Amy’s Last Dive (2012) was inspired by aviatrix Amy Johnson, the girl from Hull who flew around the world, took huge risks and made history.
For this publication, Adam Strickson, lead artist for Wingbeats, has compiled a fascinating selection of material from the project: including seabird poems, excerpts from creative diaries and blogs, and the full texts for both operas. Each copy will come with a DVD, containing film and sound recordings for a complete multimedia experience.
Adam Strickson is a poet, theatre writer and director. For thirteen years (until 2002), he was director of Chol Theatre in Huddersfield, and led projects throughout the north of England and in Bangladesh. He recently won the Yorkshire Prize in the Yorkshire Open Poetry Competition. He teaches Creative Writing at the University of Leeds.