The Morrich

The Morrich is a live contemporary performance that reflects on the experience of living in a remote and rural Highland community in close proximity to an MOD site. Through dance and live experimental sound, The Morrich offers audiences space to bring their own thoughts, memories and feelings to meet the work, as well as touching on universal themes prevalent in the world today: war, climate change, the impact of human presence in the ‘natural’ environment.

Performed by dance artist Penny Chivas and composer Nicolette Macleod, with choreography by Julia McGhee, The Morrich is a duet between dancer and sound artist, featuring an immersive sound design with the power to transport audiences on their own personal journey.  The movement and sound play between what is visible on the surface and what lies beneath.

The work has developed from a choreographic research project that reflects on human intervention within a remote landscape in the far North of Scotland. Between 2019 and 2022, Julia and her collaborators – Penny Chivas, Saffy Setohy, Nicolette Macleod and Robbie Synge – investigated artistic responses to the landscape of Morrich More through movement, experimental sound and film, working both outdoors and indoors.

The Morrich is a 40-minute immersive performance that can be performed in theatres, community halls and exhibition spaces.

The performance tours with a visual arts exhibition that shares photographs, video and objects from the research and development of the work.  There is also an artist talk and workshop offered to enable audiences to connect with the artistic team.