Wednesday 28th January 2026 Time 6.30pm

Join Dr Mary Steadman, Artistic Director of Dust Ensemble, for an atmospheric and thought-provoking talk that dives deep into the uncanny power of derelict mansions, eerie rural landscapes, and downtrodden towns.

With the current resurgence of the “English Eerie” and “Folk Horror” gaining momentum and the eerie creeping ever closer into the mainstream, there’s no better moment to explore our relationship with unsettling landscapes, abandoned and derelict sites; places where the past haunts as spectral presence. The eerie fascinates, it does not reveal its source, but lingers as a feeling that arises when ‘things are not what they seem’, disturbing our sense of reality and opening us to the mysterious and inexplicable.

This one-of-a-kind evening draws on the work of M R James, David Lynch, PJ Harvey, among others, and thinkers such as Mark Fisher, and Robert Macfarlane. Alongside personal stories, and performance footage, Mary explores the Eerie through her devising methods and processes of making performance, and where this practice intervenes with English folk horror.

About our speaker

Dr Mary Steadman has recently completed her practice-based PhD, ‘Embodying the Eerie’ (2025) in performance-making at Bath Spa University. She has over 30 years experience as an academic and practitioner.

www.marysteadman.co.uk