Ivor Novello Award winning composer, Martin Green, has created a sound installation entitled The Portal, a Fictional Podcast inspired by moments in Martin’s childhood.
The story is of two obsessive sound-recordists and lovers, Etteridge (Dylan Read) and Angela (Anna Russell Martin & Alison Peebles) who are torn apart by circumstance, never having met from 1947 to 1988 but who left an incredible collection of 20th century documentation. This was because they recorded any and every aspect of London nightlife, from war-time dance-halls to the legendary M25 raves. These recordings, that never saw the light of day until they were discovered in 2016, held messages that the lovers had been leaving to each other over the years.
Martin Green, who is best known as one third of the folk trio, Lau, said, “The Portal began as a little daydream that spiralled out of control and out into the real world. The opportunity to be making a piece of work of this size, with these remarkable collaborators is beyond exciting. Audio has always been the world where I feel most at home, and I love stories. As a story-telling form, podcast is a perfect medium for me. It is a perfect halfway house between reading a book, where you get to decide what characters look like for yourself, and film, where you are able to present so much detail… “The organisations involved have been incredible, it’s a tough time, and they have really pushed to make it possible to be involved in The Portal and make it happen. It’s a privilege to work with arts presenters of this calibre at any time, but to be able to keep up a connection with audiences and venues whilst doors are closed is particularly valuable.”
The Portalpodcast is directed by the renowned Wils Wilson with dramaturgy by David Greig of Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum and sound design is by Radio Sound Designer and Producer of Year, Eloise Whitmore.
An album made up of the music that makes The Portal will also be released by Reveal Records on 25 September. The album features contributions from James Holden, the electronic artist signed to Warp Records; Radie Peat, RTE Folk Singer of the Year, Brìghde Chaimbeul, Young Folk Musician award winner 2016 and Horizon Award 2019 winner, and Kate Young winner of the Paul Hamlyn Award for Composers 2018.
Sales of the album will support the free to access podcast of the audio drama, and will be available to pre-order by 7 August at Martin Green’s website.
The Portal podcast takes place over 12 episodes and is available free of charge from 25 September on Apple Music/Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and all good podcast platforms.
It is co-commissioned by Edinburgh International Festival, Southbank Centre, Bristol Music Trust, Oxford Contemporary Music, National Theatre of Scotland, Shetland Arts, The North Wall, MacArts Galashiels and funded by Creative Scotland.
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 