Watershed 40: A Celebration of Togetherness
After a challenging couple of years, our celebration centres rest, relaxation and gratitude as we turn towards new horizons.
We’ll gather to share food and work from artists in our community with a feast devised by Fozia Ismail of Arawelo Eats and created by Houria.
It’s a bit of an experiment and we hope you connect with new people over shared food and conversation.
Marking 40 years since Watershed first opened its doors
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The Feast
Welcome to this feast centering togetherness and care to celebrate Watershed’s 40th anniversary and to dream about what the next 40 years could look like. What better way to do this than by an edible manifestation of the very values that encompass Watershed?
- Enjoy an elderflower cordial welcome drink foraged and made with Year 5 Bannerman Road Community school children in Easton with Fozia Ismail of Arawelo Eats.
- Tuck into an amazing vegan feast by the wonderful women of Houria sharing much loved food from their home countries across Africa.
Houria means “freedom” in Arabic and is a social enterprise set up by Kimberly Prado which uses food to support women affected by modern slavery - so you will be eating delicious food which also helps to enable freedom for others. This feast is a demonstration and experiment in circular economies. We see a fairer and more inclusive future in these practices that centre communities and the planet in regenerative ways that are not just tasty but joyful too.
Menu
Canapes
- Ras El Hanout charred Cauliflower bites with whipped tahini and chive (sesame)
- Coconut 'Bacalhau' with chilli toffee sauce
- Melon and black olive crostini (gluten)
Afro Vegan Buffet
- Vegan Jollof Rice. Aromatic traditional West African red rice
- Orange and cashew. Seasonal baby leaves and micro herbs, Houria pickles, Kriolu bang dressing (nuts)
- Moroccan salad. Concasse vine tomatoes, cucumber, shallot and fresh herbs
- Aswad Salad. Opulent Sudanese classic stew with aubergine and peanuts, eastern spices and coriander (peanut)
- Okra and tomato stew. Lady fingers stewed in savoury pureed onions, tomatoes and fresh dill - Egyptian lentils. Lightly spiced braised lentil soup
- Handmade flatbreads painted with smoked garlic infused olive oil
- 'Chilli' Fresh green chilli and peanut smooth sauce to add heat as you wish. Salty, tangy, hot. (peanuts)
Dessert
- Antislavery chocolate and oat cream potted pud with fried and sugared plantain for dipping (traces of gluten)
Palate Cleanser
- Cucumber and lime Granita shot
The feast is fully vegan.
Complimentary soft drinks will be created with our community. A paid bar will be available.
Timings
18:30-20:00 – Arrivals, Canapes, Activities in the Cinemas
20:00 – Dinner
21:30 – Dessert
22:00 – Live Performance + Collective audio piece in Café & Bar
22:20 – Music in the Café & Bar
23:00 – Close
Artists Work
The Sea Turns Everything Slipped Silver by Asmaa Jama
Cinema 1 + 3
An audio piece inspired by the myth of the gabarmanyo from the Somali coast, it uses different sounds and narratives to explore ports and seas, and the myths and folklore around it. By Asmaa Jama (Writer / Performer / Director), Miriam Hilawi Abraham (Animation / Creature design) and Sami El Anany (Sound design / Original music).
An A to Z of the Watershed by Tom Marshman
Café & Bar around 22:00
A music-fuelled live performance using material from Watershed’s first ever brochure, comments cards and complaints letters. Performed in the Cafe/Bar with BSL interpretation.
Toasting the future together by Jen Bell
Recording Booth: Cinema 2, Playback: Café & Bar around 22:00
Our 40th birthday feast is about togetherness and community. Rather than formal speeches, we will be sharing our collective hopes for the future of the ‘shed. A gift from you to be shared by us all towards the end of the evening. Recorded contributions will be created into a collective audio piece mixed together by Jen Bell and shared on the evening of the event.
Record your toast to the future of Watershed, or on the night of the Feast, go and see Jen in Cinema 2.
Access
The evening is about care and rest, with that in mind, please feel free to get in touch with any questions and/or updates to your access requirements and we will do our best to accommodate, we want to provide you with the best experience possible.
Please note face masks are not mandatory but are encouraged.
The live performance will be BSL interpreted. Programme notes are available for the audio-visual piece by Asmaa.
There is wheelchair access throughout the venue and a quiet space available in Waterside 1.
Artists & Collaborators
Watershed's 40th birthday feast and event are infused with the work of our fantastic artists and collaborators, without whom this celebration would not have been possible. Thank you!
Thank you
Thank you to all the Watershed staff who have helped create our feast, especially Adibah Iqbal who has led on production.