This event is now closed.
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This event is now closed. ---
Take a step into the unknown and travel through the secrets and spaces of 300 years of history at Seaton Delaval Hall.
The Unlocked Door was a site-specific show staged at Seaton Delaval Hall in November 2022. From the dungeon of The Bastille to the parties of the Gay Delavals. Through innovative storytelling and theatre, this new immersive show explored some of the lesser-known narratives in The Hall's past.
The Unlocked Door at Seaton Delaval Hall. Filmed by Gary Malkin. November 2022.
“The Unlocked Door was a fantastic partnership with November Club which presented an opportunity to create something unique that drew upon Seaton Delaval Hall’s history. Leaning into the Hall’s long-standing tradition of theatricality, The Unlocked Door showcased its wonderful architecture and spaces in a creative new light, provided opportunities for developing creative talent from a variety of artforms in the region and enabled the National Trust to welcome new visitors to the Hall.”
— Emma Thomas, General Manager, Seaton Delaval Hall
The Unlocked Door was a theatrical experience incorporating work from five different performing artists, brought together by award-winning director Joe Hufton.
“I’m really excited to be working at Seaton Delaval Hall making The Unlocked Door. This will be the first full production I’ve created for the company since taking over, and I’m looking forward to bringing some original immersive storytelling to their incredible building.
It’s great to be collaborating with so much (for us) new talent on this project, including designer Amy Watts and DJ sets from Spin City. I really hope that North East audiences will respond to this contemporary and bold take on Seaton Delaval’s past.”
The Experience
The Unlocked Door is an immersive theatre experience that required audiences to move around Seaton Delaval Hall in small groups of 20. Across three sell out nights, audiences journeyed from the basement of the Bastille with architect, John Vanburgh, through the parties of the gay Delavals, fire and destruction, war and displacement to the Hall’s bright future with an aerial performance from Let’s Circus.
With each individual moment engaging with a different point of the Hall’s history, The Unlocked Door provided something truly unique to the region. Working with theatre makers on each section audiences were met by actors, drag performers, spoken word artists, dance artists and aerial performers. The Unlocked Door’s storytelling intersected narratives of isolation, ambition, gender and sexual politics, class and nationality.
The performances started and ended in the stables with a DJ set playing from Spin City.
November Club would like to thank Seaton Delaval Hall for putting their trust in the company and allowing them to push the boundaries of what can be achieved artistically in heritage buildings.
“Enjoyed being immersed in a site-specific performance, without stage managers etc overtly directing us but led by the cast it felt seamless. Moving through history from different people's perspectives was insightful and spoke to the issues of the times, with relevance today.”
— Audience Member
Image (C) Jodie Beardmore Photography
“I think it was a unique event and I'm pleased I attended. I'm very grateful to the National Trust for being so bold.”
— Audience Member
Credits and supporters
Credits
Created by November Club
Directed by Joe Hufton
Designed by Amy Watts
DJ sets from Spin City
Supporters
Supported by Arts Council England, Northumberland County Council, Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland, Magic Little Grants
