Nneka Cummins’ new album launches aboard Theatreship, with a collaborative performance from Nneka and acclaimed artist Ain Bailey.

Nneka Cummins’ new album, Finding Gills, launches with a listening session alongside composer, artist and DJ Ain Bailey, aboard Theatreship, London’s premiere floating arts centre.

Finding Gills is an album with reinvention at its heart. Opening with Finding Gills [when they try to drown you], their Ivors Classical Award-winning piece premiered by Sinfonia Smith Square in 2025, the piece for orchestra and electronics draws on fragments of earlier compositions. Hope gradually reveals itself out of a landscape of dissonant discomfort, with glistening strings and spiralling melodies. Its counterpoint remix, finding gills [realms and possibilities], dissolves the perceived sacredness and permanence of orchestral music, instead stretching, warping and reassembling its fragments into a fluid electronic form.

Ain Bailey is a composer, artist and DJ. She facilitates workshops exploring identity, memory and sound. Past exhibitions include ‘The Range’ at Eastside Projects, Birmingham; ‘RE:Respite’ at Transmission Gallery, Glasgow, a solo show at Cubitt Gallery, London: ‘And We’ll Always Be A Disco In The Glow Of Love’ (2019). Newer works for 2026 are ‘The Jamaica Project’ at Camden Arts Centre, London and ‘Maybe It’s Because I’m A Londoner’ with Elaine Mitchener for Art On The Underground at Waterloo Station, London.

Hear Nneka's album, get a chance to ask questions of Nneka and Ain, and hear a brand-new 30 minute performance from both artists. Copies of the album on cassette and as digital download will be available, and are ready at the reduced cost of £8 as part of our ticket bundle.

Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Access information

Due to the historic nature of the ship, we’re sorry to say there is not currently step-free access into the theatre space. We have dedicated staff on hand to help with stairs, and an onsite wheelchair once you’re inside the venue. If you have any access needs, please do e-mail us at access@theatreship.co.uk, we're always happy to hear from you, and we'll do whatever we can to help!

Image of Nneka Cummins © Dimitri Djuric

Description supplied by the event organiser.