Timespan is a Millennium Community Arts Project run by Circle of Sound who are a community music organisation based in Thatcham, with over six years experience in working with people with disabilities, elderly citizens, pre - school children and youth groups.

The project started in September 1999, based in Thatcham but drawing on people throughout West Berks.

It is brings together, story writing from the very young, reminiscences from the elderly, dance and music from both disabled and able bodied performers, visual art from people with learning disabilities and rap and poetry from youth groups.

The project will culminate in a large scale performance at the Corn Exchange, Newbury on Sunday September 24th 2000. It is expected that several hundred participants will take part in more than one hundred and eighty workshops over the period leading up to the performance.

In addition to this major performance there will be several smaller scale displays of associated work leading up to the major event.

One of the major themes of the project is that of ancient technology working side by side with modern technology - from the skin drum to the modem. Performances will include use of instruments from the middle - ages, traditional music, high-tech mixing and sampling plus the use of an ultra-soundbeam by which severely disabled people (and members of the audience) can generate sound and music and sound via everyday movements.

Elderly groups and pre-school children will be brought together to share their creative writing. Early music musicians will provide samples and beats for the youth groups who, in turn, will create dance music for the youth dancers to share with dancers with disabilities.

Timespan will be a unique opportunity for different groups within the community to share their perspectives and talents, it will also be a rare opportunity for members of the community to produce their work in collaboration with recognised professional artists from the areas of dance, music, creative writing and the visual arts.

Bookmark this site and check it regularly for updates on what is happening. A newsletter will be available to those who are not on line.