Lighthouse residency a turning point for Poole artist

Ellen Oliver, who trained at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, was part of the Sanctuary artist development scheme.

This allowed her to rework her performance piece, Afters, from a solo to a trio.

Ms Oliver, who premiered the piece at the Camden Fringe, said: “Lighthouse was instrumental in the latest development of Afters.

Sanctuary scheme helps reimagine Afters from solo to trio performance (Image: Lighthouse Poole) “Through the Sanctuary scheme, I had the time, space, and support to rework the piece from solo to trio.

“The residency was a turning point, it gave me the chance to take the core themes of Afters and deepen them both choreographically and conceptually.”

Ms Oliver, who often explores feminist themes and club culture through dance, said her pathway to this point has been “shaped by curiosity, collaboration, and a desire to blur the lines between traditional performance contexts and everyday experiences.”

She added: “Afters began as a large group piece in Berlin, then evolved into a solo version that I performed in clubs and DIY spaces.

“Over time, I reimagined it as a trio rooted in somatic practice and club-inspired choreography.

“It’s a piece that lives between protest and performance – visceral, feminist, and charged with questions about visibility, agency and power.”