Discover Fire in my mouth, a powerful yet untold story expressed through a multimedia elegy to the victims of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911. In this UK Premiere, the Philharmonia Orchestra joins forces with the female voices of the National Youth Choir of Scotland, to commemorate one of the deadliest disasters in the United States.

The Story Behind the Piece

Greenwich Village, New York, 25 March 1911. It was a regular Saturday when 146 garment workers from the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory died due to a factory fire, which started in a scrap bin. There were several factors which contributed to the devastation, including the utter lack of legitimate fire safety procedures and fittings within the building. To make matters worse, once firefighters reached the scene, they were unable to reach the higher floors of the building where the factory was located. As a result, they could not stop the flames. 62 of the terrified victims died by jumping or falling from windows.

The aftermath of this tragedy saw the two owners of the factory tried but acquitted of first- and second-degree manslaughter. However, they were later found liable of wrongful death in a 1913 civil suit. The disaster also led the fight for new legislation to improve safety standards of factories. This further encouraged the growth of The International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union, who fought for improved working conditions.

Female Narrative

In this production of Fire in my mouth, which comes to Edinburgh this August, every single victim of the disaster is represented by a choir member on stage. This is a bold visual reminder of the scale of lives lost to the fire. The majority of the victims were young, Jewish and Italian immigrant women. To break it down, 123 of the victims were women and girls, with the youngest victim being a 14-year-old girl. Yiddish and Italian folk songs combine with the clatter of the factory, creating a haunting soundscape. Composer Julia Wolfe ensures female voices remain at the heart of this piece.

Wolfe also examines the conditions of the American labour system and its treatment of women and immigrants. The piece explores the unsafe working conditions which so many women and girls were subjected to, all too often during this time period. Over a century onwards, the importance of fore fronting female narratives, as Wolfe does with the Philharmonia Orchestra, remains as pertinent as ever.

Innovative formats

At this year’s Festival, there are three residencies on the programme, curated to help you dive deeper into the variety of sounds and histories the ensembles have to offer, and foster union between artists and audiences.Fire in my mouth is part of thePhilharmonia Orchestra Residency. An innovative orchestra founded in 1945 and based in London, they perform concerts globally, with pieces ranging from Mahler to much loved movie soundtracks. They also lead the way by immersing the latest technology into their work, such as Virtual Reality, evoking deeper audience experiences.

This piece also pushes the boundaries when it comes to the elements of multimedia. Bringing to life the visual and sensory elements of the moving piece is Jeff Sugg. The Tony award winning Lighting and Video Designer for Fire in my mouth. Sugg has worked on shows for over 25 years, from Broadway’s Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, to Prince’s final appearance on Saturday Night Live. InFire in my mouth, you can expect cutting-edge video design and lighting alongside the powerful narrative.

Ahead of Fire in my mouth, watch a taste of Sugg’s previous work here

See for yourself:

Now you know more about the powerful history behind this piece, it’s time to see it for yourself. Fire in my mouth will be performed at the Usher Hall, 21 August, get your tickets today. You can also check out the other shows which make up the Philharmonia Orchestra Residency .