Living Matter, a spatial sound installation by multi-instrumentalist and composer. Mara Simpson and sound engineer, Tobin Jones, featuring the work of poet, JLM Morton. Taken from the album of the same name, which is released this May, Living Matter is a series of 10 compositions, each responding to poems by JLM Morton with audio visuals by Narna Hue.

Born out of a mutual admiration of one another's work, and a friendship fostered by wild swimming, JLM Morton and Mara’s collaboration began with Mara writing the musical score for the theatre piece, Lost Mythos. This collaboration planted the seeds for what would evolve into a full-length album and now, an immersive installation piece.

Predominantly instrumental, with passages of field recording segways and explorative sound design, each of the ten tracks featured in the installation responds to a different poem. Inspired by the landscape of Stroud and its mystical history (from the area’s pre-Roman Dobunni tribe to the spirits Genii Cucullati) and water goddesses (Cuda and Sulis Minerva whom they worshiped), it explores themes of identity and artefact, memory and belonging, but most of all the brief and fleeting nature of both human and non-human existences and the futility of perceived otherness between all of us Living Matter. 

OPENING TIMES: Sat 13th - taster/opening night 6-8pm / Sun 14th 4-8pm / Thurs 18th - Fri 19th 4-8pm / Sat 20th - Sun 21st 12-8pm