Werkha presents: Saturama
How do you bring Britain's hidden rainforests to life, in an immersive experience that’s different every session?
Shaping the story
The Saturama story comes from a place close to the heart of its creators. This video captures the creative intent of the performance.
About this experience
The challenge
The UK's temperate rainforests are globally rare, and most of us never knew we had them. Saturama, created by Manchester and Cumbria musician Werkha, sets out to change that with a live show that doesn't lecture. Performed live as a show, or looping as an exhibit, Saturama has been featured in a wide range of venues across the UK, helping to share an important story about the environment.
The approach
Live band, live visuals and live art come together, as shaped by the room and the audience. Live instrumentation sits alongside field recordings, dialect poems and cinematic footage shot in Cumbria's Naddle Forest by a team including Dot Crew Design lead Joel Hepworth and filmmaker Ryan Cooper. Each show differs. At a recent event in Manchester, live art was created by the audience, who sketch as they watch and listen, inspired by the show.
The tour
Manchester Museum, Bankley Studios, a Plantlife rainforest day in Cumbria, Manchester's renae and Brighton Festival, where a second show was added due to demand. It appeals to nature and science fans, music lovers and immersive experience audiences alike. It’s the first touring exhibit Dot Crew have been involved in, and helping to shape the output in unique ways for each venue and audience has been a great challenge. The content has been performed and presented live, but also works really well as a stand-alone, looping exhibition.
The project
Saturama is a different kind of project for Dot Crew, but a nice challenge. We don't only take on work for commercial reasons. Sometimes it's the artistic merit and the subject that draw us in. Our design lead Joel Hepworth is central to production and the live show, and we have supported the team with hardware, technical support and creative expertise.
Where to see this experience:
Visit the project’s website to keep an eye on upcoming shows, we’ll also continue to promote on our social channels.
Experience opened:
First performance 2025, ongoing.
Project details:
Created by: Werkha (Tom Leah)
Film and motion: Joel Hepworth and Ryan Cooper
Technical support, hardware and expertise: Dot Crew
Supported by: Earth Percent, Plantlife, Manchester Museum, RSPB Haweswater and Kendal Mountain Festival