Alex and Peter: A Book of Portraits was a community-focused music and theatre event that explored a collection of reimagined traditional English folk characters. The event took place in the village of Hatton Warwickshire on 21st of April 2023.
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Premise:
Alex and Peter, the 43rd custodians of A Book of Portraits, invite you to a community theatre and music event in the Village of Hatton, Warwickshire. The pupils of the village primary school will help us to repair our magic music box during the day, before we invite you all to join us for the evening’s performance, intended to spread good luck and favourable eventualities to all who take part. See our collection of quirky characters inspired by a folk aesthetic come to life as we travel around the village. This promenade street theatre event will take place in the very heart of Hatton, exploring the local landscape and buildings, with elements of the event taking place in the village hall, church, and surrounding countryside.
Join us for an evening of music, frolic and whimsy as we re-imagine tradition and ceremony. The Lavender Man will be summoned, the dance of the Flower Maiden learned, and the Lovers pitied in their endless raging tiff. The musical Fox is roaming, and the Drummer is guiding us forward. Hear the words of the Scholar as the bells ring out in rapture. The Book will be opened, the portraits are alive, and (allegedly) good luck served up aplenty for all who partake in the fun.
The first collaboration by Alexander Kaniewski and Peter Bell, the event was supported by a group of twenty emerging artists from the Midlands. The project provided creative engagement and education to 300 local primary school children as well as communal artistic participation and engagement from an audience of 80+ local people.
The Route
The performance started at the Village Hall, before heading out toward the woodland, around to the campsite and then proceeding on towards the church. There was music and performance throughout as we picked up more and more characters along the way. After the performance had finished and the church bells had been rung we invite everyone back to the campsite, to end the evening with a little more music and Morris dancing around the fire.
This would not have been possible without the help and support of Ferncumbe C of E Primary School, Rev. Ann Peachy and the congregation of Holy Trinity Hatton. Hatton Parish Council, Thomas Maynard of Hatton Farms and The Leamington Scout group. Thank you.
Alexander Kaniewski & Peter Bell
Flower Maiden: Georgie Taylor
Fox: James McIlwrath
Lavender Man: Luke Harrison
Scholar: Francesca Fargion
Lovers: Vickie Harley & Edwyn Howell
Drummer: Sam Hurst
Band: Zahrah Hutton, Vratislav Klemera
The Team
Emma Blackburn, Laura Castle, Becky Sheard,
James Knowles, Imogen Tong.
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