“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
Grief and joy collide in this beautifully honest exploration of what it means to lose someone whose absence changes everything. Inspired by the experience of losing her brother, Composer Emily Levy (along with Writer-Director Mella Faye) has collected stories of love and loss from real people across the UK. Their recorded voices are interwoven with contemporary classical music, acting and movement and contemporary dance, by a world class ensemble of performers. These threads come together to create an extraordinary elegy to the power of human connection.
An uplifting and richly textured production, Me Without You is a profoundly moving celebration of those we’ve lost and those of us who are still here.
Partners
Supported by Arts Council England Project Grant
Co-Commissioners: Britten Pears Arts, Opera North, Spitalfields Music
With support from Sound and Music for initial research & development
Doors
7pm
Start time
7.45pm
Running time
80 minutes with no interval
Guidance
May contain swearing and some emotionally-triggering content around grief
Mella Faye Writer & director
Emily Levy Composer & performer
Fionn Cox-Davies Guitar, voice & dance
Tara Franks Cello & voice
Mirabelle Gremaud Harp, voice & dance
Preetha Narayanan Violin & voice
Tom Penn Double bass, voice & violin
Sal Pittman Visual artist
Tom Clutterbuck Visual technician
Simon Booth Sound engineer
Sam Halmarack Videographer
Jackie Newbould Senior producer
Katrina Pike Assistant producer
Emily Levy is a singer and composer with particular interest in voice, sound design and narrative. Her musical influences range from medieval to classical, folk to jazz and the format ranges from solo projects, small and large ensemble, radio soundtrack, theatre and co-creation in many settings.
“Dazzling, immediate and seductive”
– The Stage“Persuasive, timeless and haunting”
– The Guardian
Mella Faye is a multi-award winning writer-director with a passion for celebrating the creative and sensual chaos of the female gaze. She is Artistic Director of Pecho Mama, makers of radical gig-theatre that reclaims the myths from the contemporary male perspective. Mella regularly works with other artists as mentor, script consultant, director and dramaturg
“A truly breathtaking theatrical experience”
– Culture Fix“Thrilling and entirely original”
– The Stage
