PELICANNIVERSARY
THANK YOU for joining us for our 5th birthday party!
A relaxed, social evening to celebrate 5 years of Pelican Theatre's work in the region. Featuring the premiere of a brand-new work in progress, alongside guest performances from Pelican Theatre's community groups, and local artists Eve Walker and Dora Frankel.
Whether you are familiar with Pelican's work or not, all are welcome at this celebration of local, female-led dance. All proceeds will go towards supporting the next 5 years of Pelican Theatre!
Read below for more information about tonight’s performances.
HOMECOMING: Spirit of the Sycamore (Film)
By the Live Well and Dance with Parkinson’s Performance Collective
Choreography by Ellie Bates & Eve Walker
Produced by Pelican Theatre
Film by Jasmine Stephenson
Performers: Peter Dixon, Veronica Dixon, Lynn Telford, Rick Telford, Marie Rice.
The LWDP NE Performance Group worked with specialist artists from Pelican Theatre to create a dance piece inspired by Sycamore Gap. Reflecting on the life of the tree, and responding to the legacy artwork Coming Home by Charlie Whinney.
The group performed the piece at The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre on Saturday 21st March 2026, after an open workshop with friends, family, and members of the public.
Image Credit: Jasmine Stephenson
Unexpected Tales
By the Creative Movement group
Choreography by Ellie Bates & Pagan Hunt and the dancers
Performers: Helen Moore, Lara Lillico, Dave Sockett, Neil Watson, Linda Zigmundova
Drawing together stories, both real and imagined, of surprising events, this piece celebrates the unique and the unexpected.
We have been meeting fortnightly for over 2 years, to explore movement improvisation and choreography in a relaxed and inclusive space. This piece has been created in only 4 sessions, and is a testament to the creativity and skill of each member of the group.
Image Credit: Alan Mason
Kunstkammer
By Dora Frankel
Choreographed and performed by Dora Frankel
Sound by Peter Coyte
A fan, a chair, a person – a solo that forms part of Kunstkammer or Cabinet of Curiosities.
This new work is a collaboration between Dora Frankel and Kent based composer Peter Coyte retracing, renewing and reforming, as they reflect on their long collaboration, embodying their ideas and sensations through structured spontaneous composition and performing in theatre and non-theatre settings.
Find out more about a Kunstkammer here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_of_curiosities
Please follow them on @frankeldora and @petercoyte or @shapenavigator
Image Credit: Imagedrum
Hold Your Own
By Eve Walker
Choreographed by Eve Walker
Performed by Jennie Fraser, Maria Giacchetto, Eve Walker
How do we take up space as women?
How do we assert ourselves?
How do our experiences shape us?
Hold Your Own is an early stage dance work safely exploring memories of touch on the female body and how this might move us. The work is an ode to a younger self, a work of autonomy and protest for women to take up space. Through gestural movement, structured material and considered parameters, Hold Your Own aims to empower, spread awareness and shout unapologetically.
Image Credit: Ellen Dixon
A Bitter Pill
By Pelican Theatre
Choreographed by Pagan Hunt
Performed by Ellie Bates and Cara Hogarth
A Bitter Pill explores the complex emotional impact of using hormonal contraception through surrealist dance theatre. Combining personal testimony with wider research, the piece delves into the often-overlooked struggles of decision making, societal pressures, and side effects.