Challacombe Chronicled
Experience Dartmoor’s rich history and landscapes through the power of poetry, dance and film.
Richard Chappell Dance was previously commissioned by Exeter City of Literature as part of our Compact Commissions in 2021.
Challacombe Chronicled sees Devon’s award-winning company Richard Chappell Dance, leading South West poet Saili Katebe, and film maker Dan Martin explore themes of care, renewal and resistance, to weave together the ecological and cultural significance of Challacombe Farm and its surrounding moorland.
Merging the lines between a poetry recital and dance performance, Challacombe Chronicled embraces the sensitivity of what can be evoked through movement, and what is expressed through words. Framed as a series of dance solos, duets and sonnets, the film features dancer and climate justice activist Marla King, Saili Katebe and thirteen local community poets and dancers.
Based in Devon, Richard Chappell Dance creates memorable and moving dance experiences for audiences across the UK and beyond, on stage, screen, and in-person.
The company works at the forefront of interdisciplinary collaboration and has previously created works for the Royal Ballet and Opera, BBC Arts, and Rambert. Challacombe Chronicled is part of Richard Chappell Dance’s 2025 work shaping new models for the cultural sector to spread local climate information and cultivate greater community climate justice initiatives through performance and co-creation.
Challacombe Chronicled is the Leeside Arts Commission for Challacombe Farm, which is a creative collaboration between Natural England and Arts and Culture Exeter.
Choreographer: Richard Chappell
Poet and Performer: Saili Katebe
RCD Dancer: Marla King
Filmmaker: Daniel Martin
Sound Recording Support: Dan Markey, Dheeya Raghavjee
Composers: Larch (Matthew Allmark and Kai Hellstrom)
Composer: Ben Moss
Producer: Clare Parker
Community Cast Choreography Support: Clare Parker, Charlotte Eaton
Company Manager: Kaitlyn Howlett
Leeside Coordinator: Emma Molony
Leeside Project Manager: Stephanie Allen
Community Cast Members: Sarah Trotter, Rita Cripps, Emily Alice Spivey, Esme Lovell, Hannah D’lavari, Ian Fuller, Tracey Fuller, Nick Viney, Maz McNamara, Millie Parker, Liz Lyall, Lydia Baldchin, Charlie Fryer
“Creating Challacombe Chronicled has been a welcomed deceleration and a moving process of traversing Dartmoor and Challacombe Farm with an inspiring set of artists. It’s been a healing processes and I am deeply grateful to Saili, Marla and Dan for their heartfullness, alongside our wonderful producing team and community collaborators.” - Richard Chappell, Choreographer
Website Links: