Sounds of the Unseen – Saturday 14 June
An immersive exploration of unseen labor from the female perspective through sound, movement, and technology.
In this collaboration, sonic artist and harpist Deborah Shaw/Aurora Engine teams up with choreographer Katie Armstrong to present Sounds of the Unseen, a new live work exploring invisible yet omnipresent labor carried out by women.
Through a tapestry of collected sounds including recordings from domestic environments, melded with live harp, electronics and vocals, the performance reflects the rhythmic nature of domestic work. A solo dancer inhibits the space, responding to and at times manipulating sound. The musician and dancer work in harmony, exploring the limits of their disciplines through the potential of interaction between them. This female-led work is informed by current and past statistics relating to women’s employability and financial security. Set within the old paper factory, Sounds of the Unseen draws a striking parallel between the often overlooked labor of women and the forgotten industrial rhythms of the past.
Katie Armstrong is a dance artist teacher and choreographer based in Glasgow. Katie trained at Rambert School and has worked as a performer with companies and artists including Rambert Company, National Theatre Scotland, Scottish Opera, Company Chordelia, Barrowland Ballet, Eowyn Emerald and Dancers, and for for Simon Fildes and turned prize winner Tai Shani. Katie has choreographed works for various festivals and events including Manipulate Visual Theatre Festival, DanceLive Festival, Hidden Door Festival, and Dance International Glasgow. Her work SKETCHES recently toured throughout Scotland through support from Creative Scotlands touring fund for dance and theatre and was subsequently programmed as a double bill with her other work GLISK for the Made in Scotland Showcase. Katie recently choreographed the critically acclaimed play LENA (Feathered Productions), as well as choreographing movement for Scottish Operas’ animation film Josefine.
Fusing real instruments (harp / piano), voice and progressive electronica, Aurora Engine encapsulates a singular and striking sonic landscape. Inventive, innovative, her lyrics brim with magic realism, their jauntiness counterbalanced by darker themes of contemporary relevance. Expect tales of imaginary friends, miniaturists, the porn industry, and drunken brawls, often delivered with humour and candour. Sculpting soundscapes from found sounds, inside pianos and outside the mainstream, Aurora Engine composes thrilling, spine-chilling music. Originally from the North-east, she sings in a geordie-tinged dialect. Her work has been likened to compelling artists such as Bjork, Kate Bush, Anna Meredith and Joanna Newsom. She will perform at CELTIC CONNECTIONS 2025 and is currently producing new work for release in 2025. Release ‘Miniature Self’ was Single of the week by BBC Radio Scotland. She has performed at BELLADRUM festival, the fringe SJQ Session’s – a curated showcase of Scotland’s musicians, and the prestigious MADE IN SCOTLAND SHOWCASE. Other recent performances include HIDDEN DOOR FESTIVAL, BELLADRUM, SJQ FESTIVAL, GLAD CAFE