A Walk of Art presents:
A Walk in their Shoes
Hastings has always attracted unusual folk, colourful and quirky characters; we are devising a programme of events based on this rich source, residents of the town past and present who would have at some time trodden the paths and twittens of A Walk of Art. From tableaux vivants to musical treats, with audience participation, Hastings’ past comes to life in the footsteps of its famous, and infamous, residents! Created by the people, for the people, ‘A Walk In Their Shoes’ is a constantly evolving celebration of Hastings’ history.
Cast of characters to have trodden the Walk of Art:
Let's Walk in the Shoes of;
John Martyn, musician . He wrote the song 'Over the Hill' about the West Hill, Hastings. There is footage on youtube of him playing at the Beach Concert on the Stade in 1991, filmed by Glen Veness, fantastic chronicler of Old Town folk. Idea is to have a short musical event on West Hill, starting from a known photograph of John outside the house on Coburg Steps.
Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Lizzie Siddal: married in St Clements Church. Research needed.
Whistler's Mother. James Abbott McNeil Whistler painted his most famous picture 'Arrangement in Grey and Black; Portrait of the artist's Mother' in 1871. This was before his mother lived in St Mary's Terrace (1876) but we are taking the liberty of including this painting as a tableau vivant from which to start.
Rumour has it that Edward V11 had a mistress who lived in the houses at the top of the terrace. 'Visiting Whistler's Mother' was the euphemistism for his meetings. Allegedly.
Grey Owl. Archibald Belaney lived on St Mary's Terrace, or had two aunts who did. Research needed.
Robert Tressell was everywhere! He is said to have written 'the Ragged Trousered Philanthropist' in what is now a plumber's merchant at the bottom of (funnily enough) Noonan Steps. There are houses bordering the steps, and one in Plynlimmon Road where he is said to have lived. A roaming character, obviously.
Aleister Crowley; scary occultist. Said to have stayed in Harpsichord House on Coburg Steps (opposite where John Martyn would live years later). Research needed.
John Hornby Maw; art collector and friend of many artists and influential people. Lived in West Hill House, home of Catherine Cookson 60 years later.
We intend this format to be developed as a project to be taken into schools as well as being part of A Walk of Art programme of events.
Information and activity sheets about A Walk of Art and the character projects as they evolve will be available from the Tourist Information Centre, in addition to this website.
Elizabeth Blackwell: First female to qualify as a physician in the world.
We start with Dr Elizabeth Blackwell (1821-1910). She lived for the last 30 years of her life in Rock House, at the top of Exmouth Place overlooking the seafront and bordering on the West Hill. Taking as our starting point a portrait, Dr Blackwell steps out of her painting and into the next tableaux - an operating theatre based on a photograph from the London Hospital of the 1890s. Here we play with contemporary gender equality via attitudes to women as doctors and medical practices from the late nineteenth century. Elizabeth Blackwell was a contemporary of Florence Nightingale, and was also at the forefront of the Women's Movement. Using actors in costume, a narrator will also request volunteers from the audience to help with the operation.
Elizabeth Blackwell; first tableau vivant - a pilot - on Sunday 15th May 2011, performed in front of an invited audience of 21 adults and children. This was filmed by Nikki Joy and documented with photographs by Dave Reading. The performance lasted a total of 28 minutes, including the 'registering' of children and the issue of badges.
Filmed on May 10th at a live performance in front of an invited audience. This was the first proper run-through. A work in progress! Unscripted. Lit for dramatic live effect rather than film but we were encouraged enough by the response to develop it further.
There was another live performance of this piece on September 8th, at 2pm. This was part of Heritage Open Days, a national 4-day event.
Elizabeth Blackwell 2
Video clip (by Thierry Alexandre) of performance as part of the national Heritage Open Days, September 8th at the Beacon. This event happened while Radiator Arts were finishing their giant gurnard for Walking the Fish at the other end of the studio. We're nothing if not adaptable.
With a different cast improvising with the material: Julian Humphries as the Victorian surgeon/butcher and Nikki Joy stage hand/nurse/sound effects. Judy narrating and Kathrine Little as Dr Blackwell as usual.
The wardrobe has evolved into a mini theatre that we're intending to take out into different venues. All the props are contained within. The 'shape' of the story is evolving too with Kathrine talking afterwards about her experience of taking on the role of Elizabeth Blackwell.
