51 minutes | age guidance 12+ | the Vigil stream has the option for Captions & subtitles

Vigil is a unique, one-man telling, reframing our changing planet and exploring the ‘sixth mass extinction’ through original and engaging live performance.

This video-on-demand version of Vigil is a digital edition of a full-length, award-winning stage performance. A collaboration between Mechanimal and Pound Arts, filmed at The Pound arts centre and on location in the south west in January 2021.

Vigil blends physical performance, poetry, projection and sound design as performer Tom Bailey takes us on a playful, poignant exploration of life in an age of extinction.

Bali Tiger. Dusky Seaside Sparrow. Cinnamon-coloured Cryptic Treehunter. Psychedelic Rock Gecko. Fire Millipede From Hell… One human encounters twenty-six thousand species from the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s ‘Red List’ within the space of an hour.

About the video-on-demand

We advise listening through headphones for a more intimate and personal connection to the piece and performance.

This digital recording was funded by Arts Council England with support from Pound Arts.

The original stage piece was supported by Bristol Old Vic Ferment, University College London, Arts Council England and Pound Arts.

Support Mechanimal

Audiences can watch the content for free but are invited to pay what you can with all proceeds going directly towards Mechanimal and the creation of Megalith – enabling the brilliant team who make this work, including performers, sound designer, movement director, dramaturg, lighting designer and associate director and freelance artists, to keep doing what they do. The world will come together to see their brilliant and important work soon.

DONATE HERE

About Mechanimal

Unable to tour in 2020 due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, Mechanimal are currently working on the development of their latest project, Megalith – an exploration on copper mining.

Mechanimal is an award-winning performance company based in Bristol, UK. Led by theatre maker Tom Bailey, it creates and tours climate-focussed work both nationally and internationally.

www.mechanimal.co.uk

Winner of a Summerhall Lustrum Award, Edinburgh Fringe 2019

‘Beautiful, contemplative… a remarkable and urgent show’
The Guardian

‘Beautifully realised and thought-provoking’
Total Theatre

‘Humour… fragile poetry… episodes of horror and despair’
★★★★ – The Arts Desk

‘Memorable… a requiem against a clock counting down’
★★★★ – The Scotsman

‘Compelling… elegant… emotionally charged’
★★★★ – Fest