Arc of the Sky began as a real-life project inspired by the idea of a bird’s-eye view of Holy Trinity Church, Blythburgh (known as the Cathedral of the Marshes), and the surrounding landscape of the Blyth Estuary and the Suffolk coastline.

​We planned to present the work, exploring themes of flight, perspective, scale, solitude and connection, in the 15th century ‘Cathedral of the Marshes’, in July. But when the Covid 19 pandemic struck and we went into lockdown we had to rethink. Unable to meet in person, we took the 130-strong choir online. Rehearsals took place virtually on Zoom and instead of doing a final public performance we created a short film.

We worked with filmmaker Nathan Clarke and art director Sal Pittman to create a lasting record of the piece. Choir members filmed and recorded themselves. during rehearsals. The creative team then assembled the film as a choral chronicle of the spring and early summer of 2020.

Arc of the Sky features music written by Jon Baker, Orlando Gough and Sian Croose, with texts by British and American poets including Emily Dickinson, Stephen Watts, Wendell Berry, Jane Draycott and George Szirtes.

The 30-minute Arc Of The Sky film was screend on YouTube and premiered at The Shoe Factory, St. Mary's Works, Norwich on 2, 3 and 4 October 2020, with 3 screenings each day introduced by Co-Directors Sian Croose and Jonathan Baker. The audience was limited to 45 people to ensure safety and effective social distancing.

Rather than use the film as a substitute for live performance we embraced the format and created something unique and lasting. The combination of music, poetry and choreography gives audiences unique, uplifting experiences.

Sal Pittman also created a second film - a prologue - using further material recorded during the project. Both of the films can be viewed below.

Arc of the Sky film 2020