Composer Emily Levy and Writer-Director Mella Faye present an unflinching, heartfelt and uplifting exploration of love, loss and survival. Music, dance and recorded interviews from conversations across the UK are richly layered by a world class ensemble of musicians, dancers and actors to create an extraordinary elegy to the power of story and human connection. Me Without You celebrates those we’ve lost and those of us who are still here.
“I’m still a sister. Your sister. Though it’s more like a secret over time. I catch myself looking for the empty places inside other people. It’s a way of not letting you go.”
– Emily Levy, Composer
Pre-show performance: Music in Offices – 6:30pm
Before Me Without You, we’ll be hearing a performance from a choir run by Music in Offices. Through instrumental and singing lessons, choirs in the workplace, bespoke workshops and team-building programmes, Music in Offices uses music to promote collaboration, creative thinking and better well-being in your workplace. They believe that singing and playing together promotes confidence whilst increasing the collective well-being of any team and organisation.
Post-show talk: Business/Art Party x Me Without You – 8:30-9:00pm
Following the show, there will be a discussion in the foyer bar about the economics of the arts: what it takes to mount a show or festival, with full transparency on the lengths we need to go to, simply to share music. Please join us! Thomas Ryall of BAP! will chair, with the show’s creators Emily Levy and Mella Faye, creative producer Jackie Newbould, and Spitalfields Music’s Chief Executive Sarah Gee.
Pre- and post- show events for Me Without You are included in the ticket price.
Have you experienced the death of someone you love? Perhaps recently or a long time ago? The creators of Me Without You are gathering stories of loss for an online collection and would love to hear how this person has shaped who you are. Your thoughts, memories, stories and reflections could take the form of photos, a poem or piece of writing, a voice recording or video, artwork, or anything else that we can upload on the website. Find out more about the Catalogue of Connection here.
Me Without You is co-commissioned by Britten Pears Arts, Opera North Projects and Spitalfields Music, with support from Sound and Music for initial research & development
This concert is supported by an Arts Council England Project Grant, the PRS Foundation’s The Open Fund, The Hinrichsen Foundation, and The Marchus Trust