THE DESIRE PATHS

We’ve just completed our 2021 outings for The Desire Paths. We were at:

Harpur Square, BEDFORD:
Fri 3rd - Sunday 5th September

Exhibition Square, YORK:
Fri 17th & Sat 18th September

Header photo: Chiara Mac Call

THE DESIRE PATHS: BEDFORD & YORK

“If you could rename a street of your town after a hope, dream or ambition for the future, what would you choose?”

We have just returned from presenting The Desire Paths in Bedford (with The Place Theatre) and York (with York Theatre Royal). We had a brilliant time in both locations - full documentation of each will be uploaded soon - along with announcements for some exciting follow up projects.

The Desire Paths: York

Performed by
Nisha Anil
Megan Bailey
Tom Brader
Alexander Kelly
Holly Gallagher
Esther Irving
Gillian Lees

The Desire Paths: Bedford

Performed by
Zishan Afsar
Nisha Anil
Marta Beccatini
Sara-Jayne Berrill
Alexander Kelly
Gillian Lees
Adie Mueller

Third Angel & HOME Slough

#TheDesirePaths

Performed by:
Nisha Anil
Zishan Afsar
Nadia Emam
Nicki Hobday
Alexander Kelly
Gillian Lees

Photography by Craig Malone (map in progress) and Terry Payman (map complete).

Seeded by Farnham Maltings’ New Popular programme.

THE DESIRE PATHS: Slough

In August 2019 we drew a giant street map of Slough on the floor of HOME On The High Street. We invited the people of Slough to rename a street in their town after a hope or dream they have for the future.

HIGH STREET immediately became FREEDOM STREET
HOWARD AVENUE was renamed OVERSTAND AVENUE
BATH ROAD became ALL IS LOVE AVENUE
EDINBURGH AVENUE is now THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO AVENUE
and WELLINGTON STREET was renamed ALGERIAN STREET

THE DESIRE PATHS: NewcastleGateshead 2018

The Desire Paths Team

Created and Performed in Sheffield by
Hannah Butterfield
Nicki Hobday
Alexander Kelly
Gillian Lees
Stacey Sampson
Rachael Walton
Bethany Wells

With input from
Lucy Ellinson

Performed in Newcastle/Gateshead by
Holly Gallagher
Alexander Kelly
Gillian Lees
Luca Rutherford

Executive Producer
Hilary Foster

General Manager
Laura Holmes

Admin & Production Assistants
Liz Johnson
Ellie Whittaker
Sarah Webb
Samantha Turner

Commissioned by
Sheffield Year of Making 2016

Presented with, and supported by, Sheffield Theatres
as part of Fun Palaces 2016

The Desire Paths formed part of Making Ways, a Sheffield Culture Consortium project supported through Arts Council England.

Presented in Newcastle in 2019 as part of Self Build Utopias, our collaboration with Northern Stage and The School of Experimental Architecture at Newcastle University as part of the Great Exhibition of the North.

Originally developed for Make. Do. And Mend. for Northern Stage and Forest Fringe, Edinburgh 2013.

THE DESIRE PATHS: Sheffield 2016

One weekend in October 2016, we chalked out the city centre street map from the Sheffield A-Z, and asked the public to rename the streets - not after some past event, but to commemorate a hope or a dream for the future: personal or political, serious or lighthearted. We heard so many stories, of first jobs, chance meetings, lost loves. It was a moving, brilliant day, and a chance to work with some regular collaborators, and some who we’ve been wanting to work with for a long time.

This film by Joseph Priestley tells the story of the day.

The show is touring in 2020. If you’d like us to come and remake The Desire Paths for your town or city, do get in touch.