Sarah Smout is a cellist, singer and poet whose work weaves together nature, creativity, and activism to provoke thought and inspire change. Her music has been played on the BBC’s Radio 2, Introducing and Look North programmes, and she has worked with Greenpeace, COP26 and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, with many ongoing cross-arts, science and community projects.
Combining her unique use of live-looped cello soundscapes, ethereal vocals and soulful poetry, she creates a transportive and mesmerising world leaving audiences captivated and spell-bound.
In spring 2025, Sarah will join a cohort of artists and scientists on a research expedition around Svalbard as part of The Arctic Circle Residency. She will spend 2 ½ weeks on board a barquentine boat circumnavigating this frontier of climate change, taking underwater recordings, and playing her carbon fibre cello amidst the melting ice and glaciers; all of which will inspire her much anticipated debut album.
Sarah has appeared at countless festivals across the globe, building a reputation as a formidable session cellist over 10+ years for artists such as Michael Chapman, Bridget St. John, The Mediaeval Baebes, The Magpies, Gren Bartley and more. Since going solo, her live film ‘Rooted’ was selected to be screened at the infamous Kendal Mountain Festival, at which she has also shared stages with the likes of Sam Lee, Robert MacFarlane and Simon Armitage.
In ’23 Sarah sold-out her Hay Festival debut and toured her show ‘Eyjar’ about her island-hopping adventure to Iceland by boat. 2024 took her on a tour for the Royal Geographical Society at theatres across the UK, as well as appearing at the Folk East, Shambala, Wickham and Medicine festivals.
2025 sees more cross-discipline collaborations with Yorkshire Peat Partnership and the continuous development of her live show, Waterbaby, which explores our fragile and intrinsic relationships with water.
From her own voyages to islands near and far, from source to sea, Sarah’s music is shimmering with atmosphere carrying the stories of people, place and beings whose voices need to be heard.
“Deeply lovely” - Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2
“Simply beautiful” – Greenpeace
“Imaginative, creative, innovative and deeply sensitive, but above all, brave” - Sir John Lister Kaye, author and naturalist
Tickets £15
-
Most of our shows use ‘cabaret-style’ seating. This means that your seats will be unreserved, which allows you to decide where to sit when you arrive.
The stalls (downstairs) are set up informally, with chairs around small tables, for a sociable, relaxed atmosphere, and somewhere to put your drink. Cabaret seating also allows space for dancing, which is highly encouraged at Victoria Hall!
For those who prefer a more ‘traditional’ theatre experience, the balcony seats are laid out in rows and raked, ensuring all seats have an excellent view.
For parties of six or more, tables in the stalls can be reserved- contact us to reserve a table. If you have reserved a table, we ask that at least one of your party turn up at least 30 minutes before the performance start time, in order to secure your table.
We can always reserve seating or wheelchair spaces in the stalls for those unable to use the stairs- just let us know when you book your tickets.
Please note, online bookings are subject to a booking fee. Tickets can also be bought by phone on 01729 825718, or in person at our box office. Opening hours are 10am-2pm, Monday-Friday.
Show end times given are an estimate only. Doors open 45 minutes before show start times.
Settle Victoria Hall reserves the right to turn away any customers not adhering to social-distancing laws, government guidelines, and/ or venue safeguarding policies.
Tickets are non-refundable, except in the case that the event or date has been changed by Settle Victoria Hall.
