Work begins on 'The Odyssey' project on the Yorkshire Coast

Yorkshire Coast BID has announced the latest major milestone to promote the Yorkshire Coast with the launch of a special legacy project 'The Odyssey: An Epic Adventure on the Yorkshire Coast’ inspired by Homer’s classic tale of the Trojan wars.

The showcase initiative will see a host of events staged along the Yorkshire Coast over the next three years inspired by the classic tale, all focused on engaging local communities in creative performances and arts and attracting visitors to boost tourism in the area from 2021.

The company says the ‘Light Up the Coast’ installation signals the start of one of biggest community stories ever that will ever be told. The initiative (that can be seen in a digital preview) will open in early 2021 to give the community a flavour of what is to follow in the coming years. It will also invite visitors to walk beneath the illuminated timbers of the hero Odysseus’ ship.

The project will see huge sculptures and artworks that the local community will help to create. As well as immersive exhibitions; animation; film; original music; geo-location soundscapes; giant puppet walkabouts; and one of the most ambitious storytelling projects ever undertaken on the coast.

The interactive project is being run by Animated Objects Theatre Company, based in Scarborough, who specialise in live artistic events and will see the programme cover 100 miles of the coastline and surrounding countryside, from Spurn Point to Staithes.

Over the last six months, the team has engaged with a number of artists and fabricators to begin the process of creating work ready to launch in 2021, including choral works, soundtracks for filming, sculptural metalwork and illuminations. So far, the team has worked with 15 talented local musicians, which will rise to over 120 throughout the project. In addition, the team are collaborating with event planners, scenic designers and local makers, including metal fabricators, printers, and even a jewellery designer working on a key prop for the story.

Lee Threadgold from Animated Objects Theatre Company said:

“We’re delighted to be working with the Yorkshire BID on what is going to be a hugely exciting project spanning three years, showcasing the wonderful talents and beautiful scenery of the Yorkshire Coast and its people. We’ve always put communities at the heart of our creative work, and the prospect of bringing people of different ages and backgrounds from across this incredible region together to tell a story of this scale is something we are really passionate about.

“There are lots of different opportunities for people to get really involved in the making of 'The Odyssey'; as makers, performers, storytellers, and to celebrate the creativity of our local communities. We can’t wait for the adventure to begin at scale in 2021.”

BID Chair, Clive Rowe-Evans spoke about the BID’s involvement in the upcoming plans:

“We are excited to bring the Odyssey to life and tell this amazing story in a different and creative way along the Yorkshire Coast. This is a great project to give back to the local community.

“‘The Odyssey’ project along with our other flagship initiatives including the Coastal Routes and the Yorkshire Coastal Sculpture Trail will all showcase to tourists exactly what the Yorkshire Coast has to offer. The ‘Odyssey’ story series will provide standout events that attract visitors from far and wide to the area, and the showcase of community led performances certainly have the makings of an epic adventure that people will engage with and love.”

To keep up to date with ’The Odyssey’ and to find out how to get involved follow Animated Objects on social media: @animatedobjects

Or follow ’The Odyssey - An Epic Adventure on the Yorkshire Coast’ on Facebook

To find out more about the Yorkshire Coast BID, please visit: https:// www.yorkshirecoastbid.co.uk/