“We are looking for spaces’ (geographic, social, cultural, imagined) with potential to flower as autonomous zones, and we are looking for times in which these spaces are relatively open, either through neglect on the part of the State, or because they somehow escaped notice by the mapmakers.” (Hakim Bey on the Temporary Autonomous Zone, TAZ)

Into The Wild explores the importance of ‘wilderness’ in the collective imagination. Over the summer, Dudendance will bring together a team of international artists with the local community; including Jelka Plat (Berlin), Fabiana Galante (Argentina), Merlyn Riggs (Scotland) and Heather MacCrimmon (Canada).

Battlehill Woods lies on the outskirts of Huntly, Aberdeenshire, within close walking distance of the town. Originally an ancient native oak woodland destroyed by storms in the 1930’s, it was replaced with Sitka Spruce to provide firewood for Huntly’s poor. The trees have remained un-cut and over the last 50 years have matured along with the Norwegian Spruce, Scots Pine and ancient Beech trees. The mixed woodlands have given Battlehill a particularly evocative atmosphere.

Recently, the council have decided to fell the Sitka and re-plant with “native” species. The emotive response to the loss of this unique space has fuelled this project. Through the generous support of the Scottish Arts Council, Into The Wild public art project will combine documentary evidence and research from elderly residents, with a site-specific devised theatre and film installation with a group of young people who use the woods today.

The Story so Far…

Research has begun. Jelka Plate, from Germany, is about to start her interview project and collect local stories and memories. Dudendance have started weekly dance-theatre workshops with a small group of young people to prepare for filming. The group are engaged in meetings with the council in ongoing discussions about the felling proposals and ongoing woods management.

In June:
Workshops to ‘map a story’ for the Battlehill Woods. We are keen to identify which places produce imaginative associations and map them in a virtual landscape creating a journey/ path for original stories.

In July:
Between the 2nd – 13th July a Summer School has been run for those who were keen to participate in the performance.

Coming up in September:
The Into The Wild public events are on the weekends of the 4th – 5th and 11th – 12th September in Battlehill Woods. Including live performance installations, a cinema in Battlehill Woods, the interview oral history archive and specialist guest speaker Oliver Rackham OBE.

To follow the project please visit:

http://battlefield-inthewild.blogspot.com

For information on Dudendance visit:

www.dudendance.com

email battlehillwoods@yahoo.co.uk, or alternatively phone 01466 799 374