What happens when you try to build a town and construct a community? New Town Utopia tracks the lives of the residents (mostly artists) of Basildon, Essex.
Conceived as an ideal post-war arena to pursue a happier post-war existence, Basildon’s legacy has since fluctuated from slow structural and communal disintegration to a hotbed of creativity and back again. Through paintings, puppets and poetry, these enduring and passionate artists discuss utopian dreams as well as their concrete realities and, in doing so, explore the success of ‘the experiment of the new town.’ This screening includes a short slide performance, Tower/Garden by artist Libby Cufley.