TreeHaus: Making yourself at home in the woods
Dr. Sam Haddow (University of St.Andrews) and KlangHaus are developing TreeHaus, an experimental performance project exploring the entangled relationship between humans and trees, especially in the light of the climate crisis. The core of this project will be a site-specific immersive performance, using acoustic sound to amplify the exhilarating experience of exploring unknown woodlands. The performance will also include a printed text presenting instructions written by children on how to play in the woods.
TreeHaus explores the playful and mysterious aspects of trees and woodlands
Time and again, forests and woodlands crop up in songs and stories. People are always running away to the woods, being chased by monsters in the woods, seeing ghosts in the woods, forming outlaw gangs in the woods, being lured by fairies in the woods, fighting ogres in the woods, falling in love in the woods, having adventures in the woods that they couldn’t have anywhere else. In the Jewish and Christian bible, the tale of humanity begins when Eve meets a snake beneath the tree of knowledge. In the pagan tradition, the great tree of life called Yggdrasil binds all the nine realms together.
Trees have always been central to our stories and now, at a time in our history where the climate is changing and our woods and forests are under threat, we want to explore and celebrate those strange, mischievous and wonderful stories, reminding people how important and irreplaceable trees really are.
KlangHaus are currently being mentored on the Without Walls 'Discover' 2025 Programme securing outdoor art connections and pathways.
KlangHaus have been mentored in outdoor performance by Oxford Contemporary Music on the Boom Artists Programme.
TreeHaus is currently in Research and Development phase:
R&D Oxford Contemporary Music Boom Mentoring Programme 2024-25
R&D Residency at Wild Rumpus Summer 2025
R&D Residency Oerol, The Netherlands in development
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