YSP Media have been working closely with Constella OperaBallet, an exciting, creative company dedicated to developing opera-ballet and creating multi-discipline performances for audiences. Their latest project Spin A Tale was developed over a two-year period, working in partnership with Derbyshire’s Darley Abbey to bring its heritage to life through a series of films with newly commissioned dance, music and drama. Commissioned by the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site in conjunction with Beam, the project was funded by Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the Great Place Scheme.

YSP Media were commissioned to develop three of the seven short films which premiered as part of Spin A Tale for Darley Abbey Day 2021, beginning work in early April 2021 with the filming on location in Darley Abbey, home to the most complete surviving 18th Century Mill complex in the world. As a Derby-based film production company who are passionate about the arts and heritage, it was an honour to be involved in such a creative and rewarding project and we had the opportunity to work with some terrific collaborators and artists.

WATER HYMN

The first production out of the three our team were involved with is Water Hymn, an opera-ballet performance celebrating the power of water and paying homage to the unceasing energy of the River Derwent that gave power to the former cotton industry. Working closely with choreographer Sarah-Louise Kristiansen, director Christopher Bevan and cinematographer Jackie Teboul captured the dynamic and engaging performances of a quartet of dancers, with the filming taking place in a beautiful location on the banks of the River Derwent facing towards the mills of Darley Abbey. Water Hymn was performed by Bryony Harrison, Erica Mulkern, Bethan Smith and Rebecca Stead.

TANGLED

A smaller and more intimate film Tangled, choreographed again by Sarah-Louise Kristiansen and performed by Daniel Longhurst, was shot inside the old toll booth in Darley Abbey. This contemporary dance film was shot in beautiful slow motion and features a solo dancer entwined in thread, reflecting the former cotton industry in Darley Abbey and ties to the past. Cinematographer Jackie Teboul brought an incredible creative eye to this short film, and creatively working with director Chris, our team were able to make the most out of a very small location, creating a mysterious and alluring visual style complimenting Sarah’s choreography.

BRICK ROW

Lastly, a short scene entitled Brick Row from Ruth Mariner was filmed at the old schoolhouse in Darley Abbey. In this original piece, three of Constella OperaBallet’s singers showcase the architectural history of the area, focusing on the houses of Brick Row, which were built to attract workers away from the industrial hub of Derby and into the new industry of Darley Abbey. Joining the YSP Media filming team alongside Chris and Jackie for this project were Benjamin Hodge on sound and Monica Montalvo on hair and make up design. Our thanks to the Constella performers Claire Wild, Fleur de Bray, Rachel Maby and Roland Harrad for their incredible work on this unique production.

Each of the three films was a delight to film and edit, and our thanks go to artistic director Leo Geyer and producer Alice Bezant of Constella for their relentless hard work to bring the overarching project together, as well as designer Holly Pigott and costumier Sebastien Freeburn for their work and artistic insight. We also want to give thanks to photographer Ray Gumbley who was on location for the shoot and captured some terrific unit stills, as seen in this posted and fully credited to him. The full programme for Spin A Tale consists of seven films, with work from Deda in Derby, local schools and the university amongst others completing the line up. Constella estimate that several hundred people were involved overall which is a mighty achievement, made even more impressive by the fact that this was all brought together during the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown. Throughout filming all health and safety measures were adhered to by all of the creatives involved.

The ‘Spin A Tale’ collection of films premiered in full on Saturday 8th May during a live event hosted by Beam on YouTube. If you’d like to find out more about Spin A Tale, head to the link here. You can also watch all of the seven films made at the official Constella YouTube channel.