Jess Cox: The Bottom of the Deep Blue Sea

Welcome to St Anne’s, where the sea is the sky, the ceiling’s a boat, and only certain creatures know what lies just above the surface of the sky, in the realm above water.

Weaving together storytelling, singing and that feeling when you duck your head under water and suddenly everything becomes quiet, come and discover some tales from the sea.

Jess grew up along the North Devon coast, and much of her work is inspired by the sea and the tales of the people who live by (and maybe even in) it. She’s a Southwest based theatre maker, working primarily between North Devon and Bristol, and loves weaving together storytelling and music in her work.

Most recently Jess has worked with Theatre Workhouse, Burn the Curtain, and Creative Playhouse, alongside making her own work, to bring tales of seagrass, swan boats, and summer traditions to Devon.

Age 8+

Review by Jane Elliott 24/6/2023

A beautiful, soft, smiling story of the world beneath, or above. The audience entered the space to the gentle sound of the ukelele and took their places around the outside of the room looking in to the pool of blue. As the tale unfolded, we were gradually emersed in the deep blue vision of drowned sailors and sparkling sail boats. The vast unknown of the deep oceans and the soaring sky blended skilfully into the songs of the sea. Jess has a lovely, pure voice singing to us unaccompanied and encouraging us to join with the mariners’ shanty. This show laps over your heart like the breaking waves on the shore.