Surge
Beautiful Bones
Walkabout / Music / Community / Something Different
Beautiful Bones is a large-scale street spectacle and musical pandemonium that reframes the rituals of death as a celebration of life. Western contemporary culture appears spectacularly disinterested when it comes to the subject of death, especially our own. We leave the mechanics that surround it to others. In Beautiful Bones a theme of general celebration, comedic irreverence and blissful acceptance challenge our own dour and often miserable rituals.
Read more about each part below:
It's Your Funeral:
Our irreverent, yet approachable funeral directors invite you to arrange your very own life party. Tailor your own buffet from the gourmet to sausage and mash. Set the rhythm and dance along to your favourite soundtrack. Write your own eulogy in the form of a limerick. And yes, don’t forget to take a coffin selfie!
Dogs of Doom:
The Dogs of Doom will seek you out wherever you are. A pack of wild, rhythmical, mischievous, thieving dogs will bring fun with some very raucous behaviour. These untamed canines are the masters of groove but don’t be too distracted, your pint might go missing!
Apocalypse, Right Now:
Prepare yourselves! The apocalyptic spectacle is about to unfold right on your very own high street. The ominous Four Horsemen will descend upon the town, spreading fear and showcasing their unique specialities. Brace yourselves, for their carts will race through the streets, showing no mercy to those in their path. But amidst the chaos, there is a surprising twist. Who knew these harbingers of doom could play the trombone so well?
City of Hull Band:
Our very own City of Hull Band joins the cast of Beautiful Bones in this grand clash of music and performance!
First, enjoy their brass band performance and then join them in Queen Victoria Square to join to battle.
Finale:
Embrace the exhilaration! Join us in casting aside all fear. Witness the spectacle as the ominous Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and the Dogs of Doom are rendered powerless by your sheer abandonment. At this momentous event, we invite you to revel in a celebration of your own existence, led by our trombone orchestra and the City of Hull Brass Band.
Join us at Queen Victoria Square for a grand finale from a culmination of spectacular shows and performances.
Release your inhibitions and dance until your bones rattle.
Access InformationThis show moves around and performers will interact with the audience. You can be as involved as you would like. Different parts of the show move around the city centre, the parade finale will be loud and draw in a large crowd. |
This is a multi-part show to explore
It's Your Funeral
Location |
Schedule |
2Princes Dock St. North |
Saturday 2 Sep 11:00
|
3Princes Dock St. South |
Saturday 2 Sep 11:00
|
8Beverley Gate |
Saturday 2 Sep 11:00
|
Dogs of Doom
Location |
Schedule |
3Princes Dock St. |
Saturday 2 Sep 12:00
|
Apocalypse, Right Now
Location |
Schedule |
3Princes Dock St. and |
Saturday 2 Sep 13:30 Sunday 3 Sep 13:30
|
Finale
Location |
Schedule |
7Queen Victoria Square |
Saturday 2 Sep 15:00 Sunday 3 Sep 15:00
|
Original music and sound design by award winning composer Stephen Deazley takes inspiration from 1990’s rave, British SKA, and medieval secular dance music, bound together with energy and colour of Mardi Gras. A massed trombone orchestra form the backbone of the finale and are joined by community brass bands. Celebrated performer and designer Alex Rigg will create costumes, props and fantastical chariot designs.
Beautiful Bones is a collaboration between Surge (Alan Richardson – Director), Love Music (Stephen Deazley, composer and MD) and Alex Rigg (Designer). These partners are experienced outdoor practitioners and collaborate frequently, notably for Festival 2014, at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. “Perch” involved 200 performers and 2 symphony orchestras integrating street performance, orchestra, film and circus performed simultaneously on two continents.
Surge is Scotland’s premier development agency for street arts, physical theatre and circus.
Co-commissioned by Freedom Festival Arts Trust, Glasgow Life and Spraoi Artist’s Studios.
