‘Water Holds Me Like a Lover’ at Ramsgate’s WWII Tunnels on Friday night will be a very special vocal and visual feast curated by composer Donna McKevitt.

A collaboration between composer Donna McKevitt and writer and filmmaker Susan Thomson, this immersive event will bring together live music from The Swimming Diaries (2024) film soundtrack album, composed by McKevitt, with tracks from her earlier album Translucence, based on Derek Jarman’s writings.

Performed by Donna McKevitt and sopranos Penelope Appleyard and Clare Stewart both members of the critically acclaimed vocal ensemble Apollo 5 together with cellist Rosie Banks-Francis.

The Swimming Diaries (2024) film which premiered this year at the Dublin International Film Festival, funded by an Arts Council of Ireland Reel art award, is based on a memoir Thomson wrote when her mother was dying, using swimming as a way to process grief.

The music of ‘Water holds me like a lover’ evokes an imaginary train journey hallucinated when ill and on morphine, a journey from life to death. This set list is a rich, ethereal journey where lyrics are diary entries, a sonic and cinematic palimpsest, creating an installation with film excerpts from The Swimming Diaries film, and footage of Jarman’s garden at Dungeness, which will be projected into the tunnels leading to the sea. And like the dead trees in Jarman’s garden, wooden posts to mark where seeds are planted, the dead protect the living.

‘Water holds me like a lover, wrestle with an angel, a reenactment of a forgotten performance.’ - The Swimming Diaries

Socials:
Instagram -
@susanthomson_ghostempire
@donnamckevitt
@penelope_appleyard
@_clare.stewart

When: Fri 23rd August 2024

Where: Ramsgate Tunnels, Marina Esplanade, Ramsgate CT11 8FH

Timings: 7.30pm doors, 8.15pm start, 10pm finish

Age guidance: All ages welcome

Tickets: £17.50 + booking fee, £20 on the door (subject to availability).

Accessibility information -

Trigger warnings:
Themes of death and dying

Transport links:
Paid for parking in nearby car park.
Railings for bicycles.
20 min walk from Ramsgate train station.
The Loop bus route is 7 mins walk from the harbour.

Venue accessibility: 
This is a seated event. please get in touch if you have any access requirements. 
Step free access to the venue.
The ground does become more uneven as you progress deeper into the tunnel.
Please wear appropriate comfortable footwear.
There is an off-road wheelchair available, please contact RFOS organisers for more information.
Lighting will be low throughout. Stewards will have hand torches for access to any very low light areas.
The venue is cold (even on a hot day) please dress with warm layers.
This is primarily a standing event with some chairs available if needed.
There is no phone signal or WIFI in the tunnels.

Toilets:
Toilets available on site, please ask a RFOS crew member for access.

Refreshments:
Drinks will be available to purchase at the bar. Please bring cash.