RAFTS
HD Film, 1 hour 6 minutes
2020-2022
In moments of change and transition, what supports us and keeps us afloat? A raft is the simplest and most fragile vehicle of survival on open water. Ancient as human language, rafts are still needed during urgent crossings. From the Abrahamic story of Noah’s Arc to the idea of Earth as a lonely life raft floating in space, the symbol of a raft has often represented the ultimate preserver of life.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, artist and composer Rory Pilgrim develops RAFTS as the second chapter in a body of performance, film and sonic work exploring how the climate crisis relates to support structures in our everyday lives. The commission is narrated by the voices of eight residents of Barking and Dagenham from Green Shoes Arts: Hugh, Carina, Liam, Butterfly, Katy, Dee, Mark, and Eddie, who each in their own way reflect on what the symbol of a raft means to them.
At the heart of RAFTS is a concert broadcast that interweaves stories, poetry and reflections around a seven-song oratorio that makes connections between work, mental health, home, recovery, and our environment. Further voices and people from near and far join the journey, including members of Barking and Dagenham Youth Dance, members of Project Well Being – a group for those experiencing homelessness in Idaho, USA – and solo singers Declan Rowe John, Robyn Haddon and Kayden Fearon. Inspired by the original Radio Ballads as vessels of time, the RAFTS concert explores how we mark time and act to enable support and prevent harm in both the short- and long-term. Using tools of prophecy, reflection and creativity, the concert takes us on a journey that contemplates which ‘rafts’ could be needed to navigate the future in times of change and uncertainty.
With most special thanks
GREEN SHOES ARTS…
Hugh Prior
Carina Murray
Catherina Rowland
Liam O’Connell
Dee Pessoa
Eddie Paggett
Mark Jones
Emily Butterfly Khoury
SINGERS…
Declan Rowe John
Robyn Haddon
Kayden Fearon
BARKING AND DAGENHAM YOUTH DANCE…
Anabel Berko
Breanna Amoako
Calum Johnstone
Chisom Nzekwe
Eugenia Rapta
Heavenly-Joy Obeng
Kiera Dymond
Lara Pinto Wlodarczyk
Marly Fadiga
Rome Martin-Whilby
Ruby Harris
Sasha Dilevska
Choreographed… Red Fox
Coordination… Georgina Alexiou
LONDON CONTEMPORARY ORCHESTRA
Ronald Long… Violin I
Natasha Humphries… Violin II
Freya Hicks… Viola
Rebecca Burden… Cello
Clare Bennett… Flute / Alto Flute
Alastair Penman… Clarinet
Anna Drysdale… French Horn
Conducted by Jack Sheen
CHOIR
Marged Sion… Soprano
Kate Marlais… Soprano
Letty Pilgrim… Soprano
Katie Dove Dixon… Alto
Serahina Simone D’Arby… Alto
Sophie Galpin… Alto
Dan Lewis… Tenor
David Jarzen… Tenor
Rick Leigh… Bass
Todd Harris… Bass
TRACK LIST
TOMORROW’S GENTLE RAIN
Co-directed with Cody G. and Lila Streicher
Song by Rory Pilgrim, Declan Rowe John and Robyn Haddon
Arranged by Rory Pilgrim
Vocals Recorded by Brandon Wallace
Luxetone Studio, Boise
Location.. Boise, Idaho and Swiss Church, London
With special thanks.. Jane Naillon
THE TREE THAT I SEE
Reflection and Poetry by Hugh Prior
Location.. St Chad’s Park, London
AN AMAZING PURSE
Sung by Robyn Haddon
Song by Rory Pilgrim and Robyn Haddon
Arranged by Rory Pilgrim
Location..Swiss Church, London
VISIONING
Reflection by Carina Murray
RAFTS OF MY MIND
Animation Storyboard and Concept by Catherina Rowland
Animated by Yasmine Djedje-Fisher-Azoume
Song by Catherina Rowland
Sung by Robyn Haddon
Arranged by Rory Pilgrim
CONNECTION AND RECOVERY
Reflection and Poetry by Liam O’Connell
Location Raphael Park, Romford
GROWING
Reflection and Poetry by Dee Pessoa
Boat Hire...Fairlop Boats and Bikes
Location.. Fairlop Waters, Ilford
RODEO MUSIC
Barking and Dagenham Youth Dance
Location.. Jim Peters Stadium, Dagenham
Sung by Declan Rowe John
Song and arranged by Rory Pilgrim
BEACH THERE
Barking and Dagenham Youth Dance
Styling… ASAI
Sung by Robyn Haddon
Song and arranged by Rory Pilgrim
Location.. Jim Peters Stadium, Dagenham
Styling..ASAI
CARE AND PRECISION
Reflection and Paintings by Eddie Paggett
FROZEN IN TIME
Reflection, Photography, Paintings and Poetry by Mark Jones
Location.. Mayesbrook Park and Swiss Church, London
FLOWERS
Sung by Kayden Fearon
Song by Rory Pilgrim and Kayden Fearon
Arranged by Rory Pilgrim
Location..Swiss Church, London
A PRAYER
By Carina Murray
Location..Swiss Church, London
THE SECRET GARDEN
Reflection by Emily Butterfly Khory
Location..St Chad’s Park, Dagenham
FAST LANE
Sung by Robyn Haddon
Song and arranged by Rory Pilgrim
Location..Swiss Church, London and Boise, Idaho
EPILOGUE
To every thing there is a season..
Adapted from Ecclesiastes 3
Read by Emily Butterfly Khory
Filmed… Idaho, USA
CREW
CAMERA…
BOISE, IDAHO
Director of Photography… Cody G.
Camera Assistance… Lila Streicher
SWISS CHURCH, LONDON
Director of Photography… Husam Al-Deen
Camera 2.. Maynard Wheaton
Camera 3.. Ewan Michael Riley
JIM PETERS STADIUM, DAGENHAM
Director of Photography… Husam Al-Deen
Camera 2… James Early
VALENCE HOUSE LIBRARY, DAGENHAM
Director of Photography… James Early
INDIVIDUAL PORTRAITS
Rory Pilgrim
ADDITIONAL…
Light…Sachin Parmer
Sound... Olly Jennings, Charlie Hinde
Drone…Abison Thevarasa
Assistance..Hishy Jega …
Audio Recording and Mixing Simon Hendry
Recording Assistant Jack Jordan
Declan Rowe John, Vocals
Recorded by Brandon Wallace
Luxetone Studio, Boise
Title Lettering… David Andrews
Credits…. Modern Activity
Transcription
Letty Pilgrim
Jake Caleb
Vlada Predelina
Stills Photography… Matthew Ritson
Editor… Ewan Michael Riley
Curation and Production…
Amal Khalaf, Civic Curator
Elizabeth Graham, Associate Civic Curator
Layla Gatens, Assistant Civic Curator
Soundtrack, Harp, Piano, Guitar, Electronics
Workshop Facilitation, Camera and Direction..
Rory Pilgrim
ADDITIONAL THANKS
Project Well Being, Idaho
Nicki Vogel
Melissa Bell
Marcos Ramos
Geoffrey McCauley
Janet Kauffman
Jeffrey Doroto
Jacob Heiter
Tina Logsdon
Tina Cartwright
Scott Cramer
Sarah Kemper Cook
Green Shoes Arts
Vicki Busfield
Nikki Watson
Sam Miller
Kevin Walton
London Contemporary Orchestra
Concert Manager… Amy Hinds
Producer… Saloni Thakkar
Consultant… Jonathon Graham
Swiss Church…Emily Rose Simons
The White House, Dangeham
Janneke van der Putten
Susie Green
Snejanka Mihaylova
Cassie Augusta Jørgensen
Evelyn Taocheng Wang
Gabrielle Pilgrim