‘Displaced’

Outside St Annes the audience gathered and were surrounded by the young dancers as the story progressed. The performance celebrated the experiences of the Huguenots from France who fled to Barnstaple in 1685. They travel across raging seas, where many lives are lost. Those lucky enough to reach the safety of Barnstaple were given the use of St Annes Chapel as a sanctuary for prayer. The young dancers use of the outside space at St Anne’s made this a particularly poignant performance, with audience members moved to tears as the dancers demonstrated the tragic loss of life. The subsequent welcome given to the survivors brought joy and elation. The ensemble work was splendid; timing was faultless as they moved around the site. The young troupe conveyed powerful empathy with the displaced Huguenots at a time when so many people are fleeing their countries to seek safety.

Jane Elliott