A special evening inspired by the relationship between rituals and the creative arts, Much Depends on Dinner opens with a public programme of music and readings, offering a musical ‘grace’ and ‘toast’ for a communal meal to follow. Join us for this chance to reflect on the contemporary relevance of ancient food-related rituals.

It’s then on to our Supper Club, in which food will be served alongside short presentations from our cultural scholars on how ritual informs and inspires their practice and research. Presented in collaboration with Küche, a multicultural social enterprise which promotes integration through culinary events.

A very warm welcome to all.

Please note that spaces for the Supper Club are very limited and as such open to College of Arts staff and students initially. Any remaining tickets will be made available to a wider audience, allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Presented by the University of Glasgow’s School of Culture & Creative Arts as part of its 2019-20 ‘Material/Immaterial’ season.

Programme Details

Musical ‘Grace’ and ‘Toast’, with Topical Reflections
18:00 – 18:45 | University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel
– University of Glasgow Chapel Choir, directed by Katy Cooper
– Tawona Sithole, UNESCO Artist in Residence, University of Glasgow
– Charlotte Methuen, Prof. of Ecclesiastical History, Theology & Religious Studies
– Andrew Cunningham, BMus Year 4, School prizewinner for best individual submission (2018-19)

Supper Club with Küche, including Short Presentations & Provocations
19:00 – 21:00 | Fore Hall

Zina Ziado & Najma Abukar
A short introduction from the Küche team on the Supper Club’s Algerian menu, and the culinary rituals which inform their selection.

The Birth of Classical Music Piety | Professor John Butt (Music)
Gardiner Professor in Music John Butt presents a lively discussion on eighteenth century music audience behaviour, counter-ritual practices and the beginnings of classical music piety.

Rituals of Care: Radical Empathy in Contemporary Performance | Dr Stephen Greer (Theatre Studies)
What does it mean to share a private moment in public with a stranger? This presentation explores how the work of contemporary artists and theatre-makers such as FK Alexander, Rhiannon Armstrong and Rosana Cade invite audiences to participate in moments of ritual exchange characterised by uncertain acts of radical empathy.

Hieronymus Bosch and Anti-Ritual in The Garden of Earthly Delights | Professor Debra Strickland (History of Art)
This famous late fifteenth-century triptych upholds the form, but not the function, of an altarpiece. This presentation will explore how the ritual of the Mass ‘haunts’ the triptych for the edification of Bosch’s elite patrons.

Dietary Requirements

All food will be prepared in advance by Küche’s own chefs. The menu will be fully vegetarian. A full list of ingredients used will be available on the night.

About Küche

Our programme partner Küche is a social business creating food-led events, community projects and multicultural catering in collaboration with people navigating the UK immigration system. Their mission is to provoke discussion, promote integration, celebrate minority cuisines and create empowering work opportunities.