Free. BOOK HERE.

Join us for the World Premiere of ‘Desire Lines’ - a short film made on Crow Park in Keswick. The film is the result of an art project engaging with local communities and exploring connections humans have with the natural world, hosted by the National Trust.

Crow Park was once the site of an ancient oak woodland; when the trees were felled in the 18th century, a view across Derwentwater was opened up, and became both a focal point of the early conservation movement and a picturesque ‘Viewing Station’. The ‘Desire Lines’ film explores how a familiar viewpoint can reveal different ways of experiencing place - including the more-than-human; and brings together research, design and creative writing from the project.

Seven characters roam Crow Park, revealing aspects of the landscape from different perspectives. Garbed in unusual costumes that reference different entities - including weather, bird, and rock - the characters move through time and space, feeling out their relationship with each other and the land. From tensions between characters, to interdependence; ancient fish to mineral extraction; the rise and fall of the lake to transformed landscapes; the film explores many-layered histories and imagined futures of Crow Park.

Drinks and snacks inspired by the landscape will be available before the screening, and there will be a Q&A afterwards with the lead artist and collaborators.

The film will have audio in English and will have subtitles in English.

6-6.30pm: Arrival and drinks
6.30pm: Film screening (15 minutes)
6.45-7.15pm: Q&A
7.30: Ends

Desire Lines was conceived and led by Rebecca Beinart. The words, ideas and costumes for the film were generated through community workshops from 2020-21. The film was developed through multiple collaborations:

Wallace Heim worked with Rebecca on creative writing workshops and script development.
Simone Kenyon developed movement with the performers.
The costumes were created in collaboration with Maggi Toner-Edgar and Viri Sica, kindly supported by Alpkit.
Filming by R.L. Wilson and Larry Campbell.
Sound and editing by R.L. Wilson.
Voices: Gillian Scholey and Jordan Tweddle.
Performers: Livi Adu, George Cole, Monique Gadella, Emily Johnston, Carly Raines, Jack Utting McBride and Jordan Worsfold

Photos: Lexie Ward and film stills

The Desire Lines project is part of Trust New Art, the National Trust’s programme of contemporary arts, supported using public funding by Arts Council England and supported by Arts&Heritage.