“Upstaged” Talk Update
As mentioned in my August blog, I gave a talk on my needle-felted figures based on folk and fairy tales that might have inspired some of Shakespeare’s story plots. My gorgeous husband, Tony, was in charge of technical things, such as getting my PowerPoint presentation, videos and website to work on another site’s internet and I was introduced to a lovely audience by my friend Mo, who’d organised four talks for the Community Heritage Centre connected to her church St.Helen’s.
St. Helen’s Ashby de la Zouch (www.sthelensashby.net)
St.Helen’s is a 15th century church. It is open every day from 9am until 4pm (except for funeral services) and has plenty to see for those who are interested in it’s history. It’s also good to have a church open for those who want a quite space to reflect and pray. The Community Heritage Centre is opposite and has a display charting the church and area’s history. There is also a chance of a cup of tea or coffee and a friendly chat. The centre provides heritage activities including talks, children and adults’ workshops and activities for the Festival of History (July) and Hello Heritage (September).
The “We’re in Stitches” meeting is held in St. Helen’s Community Heritage Centre on the first Wednesday of the month at 2pm. When I was there, it had a warm, friendly atmosphere with like minded people enjoying a cuppa, a chat and sharing the textile project they were working on.
Hastings Hall at the Centre
Hastings hall has a pull down large screen and a projector. I prepared my talk to manage without any images just in case the technology didn’t work. It’s great when you are able to show the viewers easily the work you are talking about. There is a large mural timeline on one wall and on the opposite wall, large panels about significant people from Ashby’s history. These had been removed to accommodate a display of my work. You’ll be able to see in the photograph behind me there is a beautiful outdoor area and garden. Before the centre was developed this was an archeological dig area revealing artefacts and walls of old buildings.
Tokubei and Ohatsu
There were six stories I looked at for my original exhibition so I took a small selection of three stories. I also took the books with information about Shakespeare’s sources for the relevant plays, The Tempest, Romeo and Juliet and King Lear. After I’d explained how studies had found that although folk tales might have different cultural variations they could have surprisingly similar storylines, I talked about the characters and the reasons for their ethnicity and outfits. For example, the tragic lovers of Romeo and |Juliet are inspired by Ovid’s Pyramus and Thisbe but my figures are inspired by Japanese traditional and contemporary street fashion. This is because I found there was a puppet theatre play by Chikamatsu Monzaemon called “The Love Suicides at Sonezaki” in 1703. Apparently it is based on a true story. The play is about a merchant called Tokubei and a courtesan he loved called Ohatsu.
Armatures, Tools and Materials
In order to explain how the figures are made, I brought some armatures at different stages. I also had a variety of felting needles, core wool and roving wools. (One of the ladies present reminded me that it’s called roving wool as I couldn’t remember!)
My First Storytelling to an Adult Audience
Finally, I told them the story of “Cap o’ Rushes”, which I’m very pleased to say went well. It was a wonderful evening for me and from the general feedback, I think the guests enjoyed the evening too. I was very grateful for the coffee and biscuit afterwards as well. Thank you to Mo for the invitation, to her husband Richard for helping to reload our car afterwards, obviously my delicious husband and my own cheer leading team who attended as well!
Thank you for reading my September Blog. I can’t believe we are in September already.