Experience the “talking bench”
May 12, 2021
Who doesn’t enjoy sitting on a bench and admiring the view, perhaps soothing your weary legs after a long walk?
Now a new kind of bench is coming to the South Downs region – taking the sitting experience to a whole new level of intriguing!
Throughout May and June, a bright orange audio bench will be appearing in a range of locations between Brighton and Worthing Piers.
The bench will play recordings of local people, including a fisherman, a sea swimmer, a nurse, a busker, giving their views of what it’s like to live in this part of the world.
Pier to Pier is a piece of public art and has been created and devised by Brighton’s RAPT Theatre and will be running from 10 May to 6 June 2021.
The bench will be positioned in spots looking out to sea and will visit two South Downs National Park spots – Devil’s Dyke from 13 to 15 May, and Mill Hill Nature Reserve from 28 to 30 May.
The public will be invited to sit on the bench at 10 locations across the 14 miles between the two piers.
Stories include Ron, a Goring fisherman, describing being at sea during an eclipse.
The audio reminiscences will also feature a soundtrack of a new arrangement created especially for the project by film composer Jocelyn Pook, who produced music for blockbuster movies Eyes Wide Shut and Gangs of New York. The arrangement will be sung by over 50 community choir singers from all along the Sussex coast who have been rehearsing online before being recorded for the final piece.
Emma Higham, of RAPT Theatre, explained: “This piece explores the notion of living on the edge and finding a point of balance in uncertain times. Our desire is to create something unique, accessible for all and uplifting as we come out of a challenging and difficult year.”
Pier to Pier is funded by Arts Council England, Chalk Cliff Trust and Enjoolata Foundation.
More details and a map of the bench’s location can be found at www.pier-to-pier.com
