Marco Woolf dream setting
Woolf’s music is at the same time light, complex, rich and immediate, swarming with micro-details that multiply with each new listen.' - Pan African Music
dream setting is a playful, interactive performance of music, dance and storytelling. Created by exciting, Malawian-born musician and storyteller Marco Woolf for and with St Helens and Oldham libraries and their communities.
The performance celebrates the power of dreams and explores how we can harness them to shape the world around us.
Marco shares stories about the various people (and sometimes creatures) he and local people have encountered in dreams about St Helens and Oldham.
Audiences are then invited to imagine and create alternate futures for these characters, forming a unique narrative that is shaped by the audience and woven in-between improvised and original music.
Joined by his talented band, featuring jazz pianist Tom Harris and electric guitarist Carmel Smickersgill, alongside contemporary dancer Sara Marques.
Marco takes audiences on a dreamlike audio-visual journey, bringing fascinating stories to life and exploring future themes.
Produced by Sound UK in partnership with St Helens and Oldham Libraries. Funded by Arts Council England and PRS Foundation.
Marco Woolf (voice, guitar)
Malawian-born musician and storyteller Marco Woolf’s work has been described as light, complex, rich and immediate, swarming with micro-details that multiply with each new listen.
He creates layered music with a deepened sense of narrative through improvisation and stories.
“Being raised on folk tales shared by my elders, storytelling is deeply embedded in who I am on a personal level and in my identity as an artist and I’m always looking to expand my skills as a storytelling musician.”
He has released 2 EPs, most recently, Francine, a collection of songs about the social and emotional impact of an African woman’s decision to migrate west with her children. It was critically praised earning support on platforms such as BBC 6 Music, Jazz FM, and other international stations.
He has performed extensively including a headline tour, and festivals such as We Out Here, MIF, and So What’s Next?, an international showcase of the most exciting new jazz artists.
Marco also has over 6 years’ experience working as facilitator and coordinator in community art projects. He has delivered work as a creative facilitator with organisations such as The National Theatre, The Lowry, Z-arts and Band On The Wall.
He is passionate about offering platforms that enable people to discover or explore their distinct creative voice.
Sara Marques (dancer)
Sara began her contact with Contemporary Dance at the Balleteatro Professional School in Porto, where she concluded her course in 2014.
She then joined Northern School of Contemporary Dance (Leeds), where she graduated in 2017 with a First class BPA (Hons) degree.
In 2017, Sara started working as an apprentice dancer with Company Chameleon performing in a number of site-specific, outdoor and indoor settings nationally and internationally, representing Company Chameleon as Associate Artists in Germany and Sweden, worked with Jamaal Burmark “Extendeplay' and Company K.
Carmel Smickersgill (electric guitar)
Carmel is a Ivor Novello award nominated composer and multi-instrumentalist.
She has previously been commissioned by Liverpool Philharmonic Ensemble 10/10, Laura Bowler, Galvanise Ensemble and Fretwork, Dada Fest and Video Jam among others.
Carmel also works with live electronics and more pop oriented genres. This can be seen in her most recent EP as well as the Theatre work she’s written scores for.
Tom Harris (piano)
Tom is a jazz pianist, improviser, and composer.
He has developed his practice through collaborative work with a diverse roster of artists across the UK as well as his compositional work as part of music-driven theatre collective ‘ulita’.