Audiences are invited into the prehistoric caves of Kents Cavern for Penumbra, an extraordinary underground art happening by NooN Collective (UK). Blending sound, movement, installation and projection, this new work explores myth, geology, fungi and deep listening, unfolding in torchlit journeys through the cave chambers. Inspired by the underground life of fungi and how mycelium navigate labyrinthine paths in the dark, Penumbra asks us to listen deeply and wander amongst shadows. The cave chambers unfold layers of sound, projections, and movement, weaving together collective memory, myth, geology and the more-than-human imprints of deep time.
Part of About Fungi and Being in the Dark — a year-long UK–Thailand collaboration supported by the British Council’s International Collaboration Grants — the project connects artists, conservationists and heritage organisations. At its heart is an artistic partnership between NooN Collective and Thai artist Arnont Nongyao, who together have developed a shared practice called TAAHM (a Thai word for cave, resonant like a drumbeat).
Rooted in two UNESCO Global Geoparks — the English Riviera Geopark (UK) and Satun Geopark (Thailand) — the project highlights caves as spaces of heritage, ecology, imagination and cultural exchange. Alongside the Torquay performance, Arnont presents a parallel exhibition Fungi In Your Headlights in Chiang Mai (27 Sept–31 Oct 2025).
Clare Parker, NooN Collective, says:
“Through this project we’ve created work intuitively through deep listening – to each other and to the extraordinary cave spaces in both the UK and Thailand. We’re excited to invite audiences to join us in Kents Cavern.”
Melanie Border, English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark, adds:
“These performances celebrate the holistic nature of Geoparks — not just about geology, but about connecting environment, culture and communities locally and globally. Art helps us to see geology and heritage in a new light — or in this case, in the dark.”
Penumbra runs 17–19 October 2025 at Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves, Torquay.
Audiences travel in small groups by torchlight. Expect uneven terrain, darkness, sound and projection (not suitable for under 18s or those with mobility issues). Warm layers and sensible footwear recommended.
Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/taahm25
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