The Road to the Beach was a major participatory performance event developed in partnership with The Works, Creative Partnerships Cornwall and The Extreme Academy. Bringing together a team of visual artists, local dancers and Motionhouse, Kevin directed a participatory process in Cornish schools spanning 9 months. The process began with an 'inspiration week' for school children in October 2003 and through 9 residency workshop and devising weeks, it culminated in the performance The Edge on the tidal beach at Watergate Bay, Cornwall on 25 June 2004.
Created as a series of thematically linked performance chapters, The Edge drew its audience along the length of the beach. Drawing on themes of the sea - from a pirate fleet and Botticelli's Venus, to giant windmills and sandcastles, from singing sirens on the rocks to the 100 strong 'sea of boys' - and culminating in Machine Dance, for 4 dancers and 4 JCB diggers, The Edge pushed back the boundaries of site based events.
The Edge was performed by a cast of 700 – with school children dancing alongside professionals - to an audience of 2,500.
Premiered| 25 June 2004, Watergate Bay, Cornwall, UK
Credits Conceived & Directed by
Kevin Finnan Choreography
Kevin Finnan & the Company Dancers
Caroline Bridges, Vanessa Cook, Junior Cunningham, Dave McKenna, Helen Parlor & Lisi Perry
"Excellent entertainment – unusual, clever
& meaningful" Audience Member
