ORIGIN at Dunham Massey

Dunham Massey’s calming surroundings are now home to ORIGIN, an immersive sound experience created by A Right/Left Project.

Fittingly for the location, ORIGIN is inspired by nature’s cycles and the interconnectedness of all things. Realised as an audio work, it’s a deep listening art installation that provides more than just a fleeting encounter. Visitors are invited to spend around 30-40 minutes with the work for an immersive session of enveloping sound, away from the hustle and bustle of urban life.

The installation actually takes place in a specially built wellness space within the house to ensure full immersion. Visitors are invited to relax and lie down on handmade mattresses, replicating ones that would have been used when the house was a site of recovery for soldiers during WWI.

A Right / Left Project is the creative partnership of Stephen Dobbie and Colin Nightingale, with two decades of experience in creating captivating aural experiences. They are key associates of acclaimed immersive theatre company Punchdrunk and for the last two decades their joint vision has been redefining the way stories can be told.

The ideas behind ORIGIN were sparked  by one of nature’s greatest wonders: the Giant Himalayan Lily – the world’s tallest lily that takes between five to seven years to flower and blooms only once in its life. Afterwards, just before it dies, the plant produces thousands of seeds to ensure its life continues. There are 200 Giant Himalayan Lilies in Dunham Massey’s, which along with the abundant gardens, inspired the artists to create a space for audiences to reconnect with the natural world.

Stephen Dobble explains: “we’ve explored how sound influences the way we perceive and interact with the world. Here, we wanted to push that concept further—creating an experience where sound isn’t just heard but felt.” 

This emotional response comes from the power of the sound itself but there’s another layer to ORIGIN too. Dobble and Nightingale worked with the Manchester-based literature and performance charity Young Identity, inviting ten young people to step into ORIGIN and craft a response in the form of poetry. These poems were then woven into the original soundtrack to create a bespoke experience, specifically for Dunham Massey.

Take a look at the National Trust Dunham Massey page for booking information and let yourself disappear in ORIGIN’s soothing notes, even if just for a moment.

Please note, this experience is not suitable for under 12s and any under 16s need to be accompanied by an adult. While you’re there, check out the Field Hospital for Eco-Anxiety in the Orangery too.