THE CLEARING STAGE,
HOUGHTON FESTIVAL
The 'Clearing Stage' is a permanent structure set within the woodland at Houghton Hall. Designed originally to be approachable from all sides, with the performer in the centre, it has taken on different configurations over the 7 years its been in use.
The design hoped to create varied scales of intimacy. From a distance, one experiences the woods and views the structure within its setting. When moving closer, the wings provide a roof and ensure a smooth transition between the woodland and the cosy space within. Here, it feels intimate below a Corten-clad case, as though one is inside a small underground room. The stage is primarily a tunnel, composed via a series of repetitive timber frames. The tunnel supports a large canopy and a suspended space within.
YEAR: 2018
PROJECT TYPE: SOUND, SPACES
COLLABORATORS: Houghton Festival, Creation Live
TEAM: Edie Parfitt, Ella Caldicott, Felix Sagar, James Hepper, Millicent Green
