Trigger

Ground

An intimate and earthy 3-course meal; stories of seeds, plants and kinship from around the world.   

Take a seat at the table and connect to generations of knowledge through the food on your plate.

The seeds and saplings that grow into food that nourishes us, feeds our communities and provides a living. What does it mean to 'own’ something that has grown and been used for thousands of years? Many seeds hold stories of custom and ritual long before they are picked, packaged and priced. 

Led by the voices and stories of Indigenous and traditional knowledge holders, Ground reveals the tangled histories of patenting plants. Past and present are woven through time, reaching your eyes, ears and tastebuds through a locally sourced and specially curated menu and live performance experience from award-winning creators and producers Trigger. Through an immersive 3-course meal, Ground brings light to the heritage found in every bite.

From the food on your plate to the stars in the sky, this earthy and intimate event invites curiosity and connection to the land and to each other.

Each ingredient has a story to tell. Sit with us and listen.

This event took place in May 2024. Ground will be touring soon.


"It got down into your belly, the thing about food and our relationship to people and politics. I wouldnt have missed it for the world. It was special and very spiritual."

Phil Haughton MBE - Founder, Better Foods

"Ground is a wonderful meal out made even better by thought provoking tales of food history sparking great conversation."

Will Humphries, The Times

"All the stories and narratives ring really deep. It becomes special, it becomes meaningful... it makes you think that we can be human again. I love this."

Skinder Hundal MBE – Director of Arts, British Council

"The atmosphere and intimacy you’ve created between strangers will stay with me for a long time. Food, culture, conversation, perfection.”

Emily Collins, Arts Council England

Programme

Tour Dates

Brighton Festival 2024

Set against the UK’s first Earthship, Ground will have its world premiere at Brighton Festival in May 2024. 

Featuring a menu developed by Jethro Carr and performance from Flick Ferdinando.

As seen on Grand Designs, Earthship Brighton is a pioneering off grid eco-building, powered using the natural elements.

Dates: 4-26 May 2024 

Show times: Performances start at 2pm and 7pm 

Show duration: 120 minutes 

Price: £25 per person including 3-course meal 

This event has now passed. Ground will be touring soon.

Project Story

In 2022 Trigger embarked on a radical, far-reaching process of research and development.

Residencies in Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Melbourne and Kew's Millenium Seed Bank gave us the opportunity to meet with Indigenous elders, academics, scientists and artists. In doing so we heard stories and learnt the complex histories of botany, plant use, and ownership. Learn about our two-year research and development process here.

Find out more about the themes of Ground through our reading list.

If you are a festival or programmer interested in booking Ground and would like a tour pack, please visit experienceground.co.uk or contact alicia@triggerstuff.co.uk

Creative Team

Director
Angie Bual
Designer
Bronia Housman
Digital Design
Paul Reardon
Performer
Flick Ferdinando
Composer and Sound Designer
George Bloomfield
Production Manager
Jay Kerry
Deviser and Dramaturg
Gemma Paintin
Contributors and Collaborators

Sutton King, Dr Robin Wall Kimmerer, Farida Nabourema, Océane Nyela, Dr Suman Sahai, Elder Duke Redbird, Risham Syed

Commissioners

Ground is commissioned by Brighton Festival and presented as part of Caravan Showcase

Funded By

Bristol + Bath Creative R&D, Arts Council England, and British Council

Digital Funders

XR Stories and The Studio

Supported By

Take Me Somewhere, Yeo Valley, National Trust, Summerworks, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, and Millennium Seed Bank at Kew's Wild Botanic Garden Wakehurst

With Thanks To

Vandana Shiva and Anna Southwell