The WHALE project is an immersive theatre event by Belgium Collective, Captain Boomer that sees a life-size whale discovered and explored in public with the Boomer crew playing out the discovery as a ‘fake news’ event.
In May 2022, Eden Arts brought THE WHALE to Redcar and Whitehaven on behalf of and in partnership with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners. The project was part funded by Arts Council England.
Eden Arts
Eden Arts are an artist led company based in Cumbria, dedicated to creating and facilitating change through culture and arts activities. These can be very small (and sometimes far away), intimate projects as small as 1-1 things, or larger things like town festivals and regional strategic plans. It is always about finding creative solutions.
Captain Boomer Collective
Captain Boomer Collective were founded in 2008 and are based in Antwerp, Belgium. They create completely location-based shows that explore the boundaries between reality and fiction.
Zephyr
The whale was made especially for this project by sculptor Dirk Claesen and his wife Hedwig Snoeckx of Zephyr Wildlife reproductions. Their studio specializes in hyperreal animal reproductions.
Dirk passed away in 2014. Hedwig still leads Zephyr Wildlife.
DAVID GAFFNEY
Writer in residence, David Gaffney comes from Cleator Moor in West Cumbria and now lives in Manchester. David is a prose writer with a specialism in short stories, particularly micro-fiction, and has published widely and collaborated with artists working in other art forms.
LIZZIE LOVEJOY
Spoken word artist Lizzie was given a micro-commission to write a piece about the WHALE.
ALEX JAKOB-WHITWORTH
Contemporary fine artist Alex documented the whale, and its beaching, as a way of providing a connection between the townspeople who would inevitably gather, and the scientists who were trying to work.
CARMEN MARCUS
Writer in residence, Carmen Marcus was commissioned by Eden Arts to create a piece around the WHALE at Redcar.
BRIAN SHIELDS
Artist Brian Shields was awarded a micro commission to create an image that was printed on postcards to accompany the event
