We are raising funds for Diabetes UK, and for future DE projects.

A pub quiz with a difference!
Fiendish games with fabulous prizes.
Live music, and indentureship schemes!

Invite your friends!
Bring a team of people to enter the quiz and games!

Date: Thursday, 10 May 2012
Time: 19:00 – 22:00
Location: BaaBar Hardman Street, 7 Myrtle Street

Citizens entrance (18+ Only) £1.50

DISCLAIMER
DE cannot be held responsible for any Teslarist activity, or unseemly behaviour as a result of consumption of constitution-altering liquids, or general giddiness.

Dismembered Empire is a Steampunk style parallel world, where Liverpool has become the centre for world trade and economic power. Certain infamous debate raging between two famous scientists, Tesla and Edison, has reached such significance it is ripping the ‘Empire’ in two.

The project is based on the time of the late Industrial Revolution – an important era for scientific, technological and socio-economic change. Inspired by real life renegades of Industrial Revolution Liverpool, such as Edward Rushton; poet, seafarer and abolitionist- the project’s title is taken from one of his poems. The audience can delve into this imagined world in many ways, this first show being a crucial event in the lives of our characters and the history of the re-imagined world.

‘Dismembered Empire’ is a team of musicians, actors, production crew & makers who create site-specific, immersive performances. Our previous work includes an event at the Williamson Tunnels in Liverpool, and at Threshold 2012. Jenn Catterall, the project’s Creator and Musical Director, worked as an MD on Hope Street Limited 2010 Emerging Artists Scheme.

We ‘world-build’ – our characters and story-arcs build a world for our audience to step into, and interact with. Immersive theatre means that our audience get more than a performance where they are passive observers- by interacting with our characters they can change the course of events. We have elements of gaming, social media use and technology to enhance this.

We like to take our audiences on a journey, figuratively and literally, in this case moving from the old gallery, to the final location. Part of this journey will involve a procession with performance (music, movement and acting) through the street.

Musically, we have a range of instruments which reflect and combine different genres and time periods, which can be used to create soundscapes, soundtracks to create atmosphere, or tell stories via lyrics.

DE’s work can be described as ‘steampunk’ or ‘retro-futuristic’ – we like to take ideas, culture, technology etc from the past and give them contemporary relevance- ‘remixing’ history.

You can also find us on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Soundcloud.

‘Hand me Heartbreak’ composed by Jenn Catterall
Voiceclips ‘Davey Toudrop’ (Michael Shon) and ‘Tobias Renshaw’ (Andrew Welsh)

The cast of Dismembered Empire were invited to Blackburne House to invade the Hope Street Christmas Fair with our performance of “Illumination Day”.

The citizens were torn between celebrating two mid-winter festivals. Illumination Day, or Crystalmas.

The Purple Hand wanted to celebrate Crystalmas. A community festival celebrating the longest night with hand made gifts, feasting, music, dancing and cavorting.

The Directorate wanted to celebrate Illumination Day. A celebration of the subjugation of the night commemorated by the giving of factory produced goods, putting up celebratory lights and producing a world that never stops working.

Professor Zong and the Arch-Orator were also asked to judge the Movember Mo contest! Which was rather fun!

And the wonderful people at a&b leisure lets us play in their inflatable snow globe for ages!

“The light always shines on the Directorate Empire”

Illumination Day is almost upon us and will be launched at the Hope Street Christmas 26th November, Blackburne House, Liverpool. 11:00 – 17:00.

Also Professor Zong and the Arch Orator will be judging the Movember Mo contest!

The sinister and bureaucratic Directorate would like to enlighten the public about ‘Illumination Day’-which celebrates the invention of the electric light, which they insist was created by Edison himself. Held on the winter solstice, the longest night of the year to celebrate the subjugation of the night, allowing a world that never stops working. They will encourage the citizens of Hope Street to join their Indentureship scheme in exchange for factory produced goods, mass produced cards, shares and bonds!

The Purple Hand oppose these ways, preferring instead to celebrate Crystalmas (which the Directorate have banned). On Crystalmas, family, friends and community come together for feasting music, dancing and general revelry during the longest night of the year. They exchange handmade gifts, or sing a song, play music, or prepare a turn for the entertainment of their fellow revelers. They will also remember their ancestors, crystal speakers will convey messages from the crystal realm.

Many months work has come to fruition with the performance of Dismembered Empire in the Williamson Tunnels. We started developing the show in February and the two performance nights were a great success!

Within our fantastically imagined steampunk world the audience loved interacting with the Empire’s disturbed citizens, the live and original music echoing from deep within the caverns, the twisted plot based on corporate rule, mistrust, betrayal and sociopathic exploitation, enjoyed solving the mysteries of the Directorate and the Purple Hand and deciding for themselves how the play will end!

The unscripted show was largely improvised within a pre-planned structured plot line. A full list of contributors can be found in the programme.

What is extremely cheering is the masses of great feedback we are getting! A great credit to all the production team, cast, musicians and particularly the director Jen Catterall.

I just wanted to say this was an awesome production and cant wait for part two well done guys xx

We went to another world over the weekend…was amazing! What a brilliant time here! Well done to all involved!

Dismembered Empire @ Williamson’s Tunnels tonight wondrous experience. Cant wait for part 2

Incredible show last night, sir! My colleague and I were blown away.

Great fun last night! Do please let us know if/when part 2 happens!

Congratulations professor! It was an awful shame about the vote (or a victory depending on the eyeglass you’re looking through!) well, onwards and upwards. To the purple hands! Huzzah!

It was a great experience! Congratulations to everyone!

We loved being part of it …well done to all involved in your brave & unique show.

that was an awesome night

And jolly top hole it was as well!

Excellent performance directed by Jen Catterall in Dismembered Empire this weekend. Well done, looking forward to part 2! xx

That was unbelievable last night Jen. A massive congratulations to you and all the cast. Pure, unadulterated aceness. DO MORE VERY SOON PLEASE

Well done for tonight Jen. A very ambitious project. Well done to y’all.

A splendiferous event, well done sirs and madams! Your humble audience member, Anastasia Tempus

The Williamson Tunnels are a source of both work and power for the Empire’s citizens. Strange and dangerous secrets lurk in the Tunnel’s depths; those close to the truth must make a choice that will affect the lives of many. In October the gates between Liverpool as we know it and this parallel Liverpool will open up, so we can witness a significant event in this world play out.

The project is based on the time of the late Industrial Revolution – an important era for scientific, technological and socio-economic change. Inspired by real life renegades of Industrial Revolution Liverpool, such as Edward Rushton; poet, seafarer and abolitionist- the project’s title is taken from one of his poems. The audience can delve into this imagined world in many ways, this first show being a crucial event in the lives of our characters and the history of the re-imagined world.