Performed from bed and live-streamed to UK venues this autumn, The Severed Wing explores chronic illness, disability and isolation.

Disabled, queer self-portrait artist Corinne has spent the past six years bed-bound due to chronic illness. From this 2m x 1.5m place of confinement, they have created The Severed Wing – a poetic live art performance exploring their lived experience of disability and isolation. Performed entirely from their bed, audiences witness Corinne grow wings, transform into a bird and escape into the woods outside their window. Using multiple camera feeds, projection and immersive sound design, the performance is streamed in real time into theatre, performance and gallery spaces, creating an intimate live encounter between one physical space and
another.

Corinne said “I live by the woods and hear birdsong from my bedroom window daily. Watch me, a disabled artist confined to bed, transform into a bird – my true self – and escape my confinement. I hope to spark conversations on how housebound artists like myself can share live work remotely — and help shape a more inclusive, equitable future for the arts”

The Severed Wing explores the use of different creative technologies to dissolve the physical barriers faced by bedbound artists. Corinne’s hybrid approach, rooted in practices developed during the COVID-19 lockdown, questions what the so-called ‘return to normal’ means for those who never left a state of isolation. Through the development and touring of The Severed Wing, Corinne aims to establish and share a replicable practical approach for venues and programmers to better support bedbound artists in creating and presenting live work remotely.

In Autumn 2025, the work, commissioned by Lowry, will be streamed live from Corinne’s bed to audiences both in-venue and online.

The Severed Wing is commissioned by Lowry supported using public funding from Arts Council England, alongside support from QUAD, Attenborough Arts Centre and Art Riot Collective in partnership with #CovConnects. Additional support from DASH ((Disability Arts in Shropshire) and Outside In.

Trailer edited by Paul Lumsden.

Age Recommendation: 14+, This performance contains references to confinement, emotional distress and surgical style implements, a wooden needle although in abstract form.

The accompanying film, which tells you about Corinne and the meaning behind the Severed Wing, contains references to bereavement, bed confinement, disability, (in particular Fibromyalgia),  mental health and a brief mention of gender dysphoria.

This performance uses projected images of a live streamed performance. The room will be dark on arrival and there will be amplified sounds.