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interbeing

interbeing, a term coined by Zen master and peace activist, Thich Nhat Hanh, articulates the interconnected existence of all things. Drawing from this term, this project is an experimental operatic collage, offering provocations that explore humanity's relationship with land and more specifically how our actions are impacting the environment. It suggests that everything exists in a state of interconnected being, interwoven and mutually dependent. Employing the physical connection between land and body as a visual and sonic motif, this opera serves both as a call to action and an offering.

Music – Simmy Singh
Libretto and Visuals - ASHA

Music by Simmy Singh and libretto and visuals by ASHA form the backbone of this digital opera short, which leverages the emotional power of storytelling through music and image - opera - to explore the symbiotic relationship between us and the planet we share. It emerges as a compelling cry for action, stirring a deep-seated response and sense of responsibility for the environmental crisis we have precipitated. The narrative prompts a critical reflection: if we continue on a path of destruction of our planet, we risk our future and dreams. This piece asks whether we should wait passively for such an outcome or actively seek change, underlining the importance of understanding our human bodies in relation to the Earth.

As opera, interbeing is a powerful blend of poetry, music, image and sung text. The emotional charge works on an almost instinctive level, just as our relationship to the planet should, and touches our inner being, our empathy. When we break the necessary inter-connectedness between ourselves and the earth we live on, we are also denying our true selves. This work, part of MTW’s New Directions series, represents a dynamic collaboration between two artists known for their contemporary storytelling across music, performance, and imagery, delivering a powerful and shared message.

Composition, Strings, Vocals and Piano
Simmy Singh

Libretto and Visuals
ASHA

Soprano
Anna Dennis

Cast in Order of Appearance
Sia Gbamoi
Adrian Gardner
Adiam Yemane

Drums ‐ Simon Roth
Cello ‐ Rachel Shakespeare
Double Bass ‐ Alice Phelps
Mixing ‐ Sebastian Gainsborough

Film Editor ‐ Marnie Hollande

Simmy Singh is an Earth Activist violinist and composer from Wales, dedicated to blending music and nature to foster connections among people, communities, and the environment. As a co-founder of the Manchester Collective, she has played with notable orchestras like the Manchester Camerata and London Contemporary Orchestra, and led collectives such as the Kaleidoscope Orchestra, Untold Orchestra, and Ignition Orchestra. A seasoned session musician, her work spans recordings for major films and albums at Abbey Road Studio and her sounds are influenced by jazz, folk, and electronic music. As Sinfonia Cymru's Creative Associate, Simmy curates projects to inspire creativity in young musicians and is directing a rework of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Her involvement in the ‘Call of The Wild course and receipt of the Future Wales Fellowship highlight her commitment to environmental advocacy through art.

ASHA is an award-winning multi-disciplinary artist whose work spans theatre, photography, and film. Under this pseudonym, she makes work that lends itself to a sense of abstraction through experimentation with form, monotone, texture, and structure, further enriching the project's exploration of our current existential and environmental dilemmas.