Voices of the earth
The healing power of plants
Learn about the healing power of plants: a journey of mythological, environmental, medicinal, cultural, political and personal dimensions. All of the written and aural contributions have been created with Theatre de Complicité out of the experiences of children, young people and adults who were involved in the first phase of Global Generation’s Voices of the Earth project.
Listen to the audio pieces about some of the plants that claimed us
Each of the seven Voices of the Earth audio pieces were created as an invitation for you to spend time in Camden’s Green Spaces, listening to nature’s voices. Download the audio map here.
Oak - The Story Garden Oak Circle
Sacred to the Druids, Oaks grew on this island when it was still attached to mainland Europe. They are now threatened by oak processionary moth.
Voices: Charlotte Gordon, Dontae Jacobs, Jocelyn Vick Maeer
sugarcane - Story garden polytunnel
Whilst a carnival delight, let us not forget the atrocities of the sugarcane plantations, whose owners enslaved ad impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.
Voices: Affifa Abdirahman, Malaika Bain-Peachy, Eben Lewis; Sound design: Eben Lewis
Marigold - Story Garden Willow Dome
Orange and bright, Marigold heals our skin and makes us right.
Voice: Rod Sugden
Thyme - The Francis Crick Herb Garden, corner of Ossulton Street and Phoenix Road
Thyme is an antiseptic with an etymology from the Greek Thumos meaning sacrifice, courage, anger and vital breath. Thyme is linked to the spirit of the Italian Mondine woman.
Voices: Silvia Pedretti and children involved with planting Thyme in the Francis Crick Institute Herb Garden; Anna Fitzmaurice, Angelika Davey, Sapphire Brown, Michelle Onukegbe, Jimmy Frow.
Daisy - Purchese Park
In Myth and legend, daisy is a reminder of the value of time spent in the underworld.
Voices: Molly Frow, Maedeah Pourhamdany and Lucy Shiekh
Ash - The Thomas Hardy Tree, St Pancras Churchyard
Lofty and tall, ash is the bridge between the earth and the sky, and a symbol of the connection between all things. Ash is currently threatened by Chalara or as dieback.
Voice: Dontae Jacobs
Yarrow, canal tow path at the edge of the king’s Cross Estate
A plant of a thousand leaves, sed in the healing of wounds by Achilles and other Greek heroes.
Voices: Cassandra Adoptante and Maedeah Pourhamdany
Audio Files by Complicité sound designer Dan Balfour
Illustrations by Ellie Osgerby
read the anthology
Download the anthology here and read more about how young people experienced these plants.
Read the blog posts
Photography exhibition
"Capture" Afifa taking pictures of ash leaves during a sensory walk with Sue, Head of Gardens - Purchese Street open space
“Whenever you’re ready” Dontae’s performance of his encounter with the Ash in St Pancras Old Churchyard
“Untitled” A quick cool off in the heat of the Voices of the Earth Summer School
“Conquer” Ferns growing through bricks in Purchese Street open space
“Golden Aura” Marigold close up
“Through Persephone’s Eyes” Daisies seen through a leaf
“Move with me” Bamboo activity with Naomi from Complicité - St Pancras Old Churchyard
“Intertwined” Artistic composition with Cassie and treebark - St Pancras Old Churchyard
“Voices of Modern Myths” Fellows preparing to record their voices for the audio pieces that were launched in Autumn 2020
“Free Fall” Sapphy writing at the end of the day, reflecting on her experience with planting thyme and singing
“Under Your Leaf” Gathered for storytelling, qigong, forest bathing and writing in Hampstead Heath
“Shine and Seek” Fellows composing a circle of hands under the trees at St Pancras Old Churchyard
“Through Nature’s Ears” A storytelling moment with families in the Oak Circle - Story Garden
“Rhythm of the Oaks” Young people’s musical pieces to accompany stories from the Voices of the Earth Summer School
“Bittersweet” Cutting and tasting sugar canes and learning it’s history
“Twilight Blossoms” Fellows and Generator’s performance on the evening of the Voices of the Earth audio launch
“Our Circles of Senses” Tea tasting with Rasheeqa - Story Garden
“Our Circles of Senses” Tea tasting with Rasheeqa - Story Garden
“Help Me Grow” Gardening in the medicinal mound - Story Garden
“Within Reach” Imitation of Nature’s cycle with Naomi from Complicité - Regents Place
“The Mayday Queen” Fatma’s crown using flowers growing in the garden - Story Garden
“The Space Between” Detail of tree bark in St Pancras Old Churchyard
“Tell Me Your Story” Mother sharing her family story on the healing power of plants, Polytunnel at Story Garden
This odyssey of nature connection, is the first stage of an ongoing collaboration between Global Generation and Complicité. As a result of their multi-award winning production The Encounter, international touring company Complicité became committed to highlighting the significance of Indigenous knowledge, including plant based wisdom, and to developing cultural work that supports the future health of the planet.
The Complicité approach is enhancing Global Generation’s storytelling and participatory practice. For Complicité collaborating with Global Generation is an important part of their transition towards combining their outstanding reputation as a touring company, with a new, locally engaged community focus.
After weeks of planning and preparation we have finally launched the exhibition, our year-long project “The Voices of the Earth" has been brought to fruition! I think it is safe to say the exhibition was a success due to all the smiles and participation from our guests who visited on the evening of the 10th of June.