A striking 9-foot living statue puppet inspired by Jane Austen turned heads and warmed hearts at this year’s Hat Fair, thanks to a powerful promenade performance by Blue Apple Theatre’s Special Assignments Company.
The performance took place earlier this month as part of the UK’s longest-running festival of outdoor arts. It marked the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth and paid tribute to two iconic traditions of street performance: the living statue and the large-scale puppet.
The puppet was originally created in collaboration with Play to the Crowd, Hat Fair and New Carnival. In a theatrical promenade through Winchester’s High Street and beyond the Buttercross, the puppet was animated by a team of performers in Regency costume – which they made themselves, inspired by Jane Austen’s books. Two puppeteers took turns carrying the frame and operating her head, while others moved her arms, carried quills and performed a period dance.
The performance drew large, appreciative crowds and was widely praised for its creativity, elegance and inclusive spirit. It was one of several public appearances this summer by Blue Apple Theatre, which creates high-quality opportunities for performers with learning disabilities to take centre stage.
“This project has been such a celebration of visibility, creativity, and collaboration,” said Blue Apple Theatre’s Associate Director, Rebecca Godden. “We’re so proud of the performers who brought our Jane to life, and it’s been a real joy to share this moment with the Winchester community.”
Blue Apple Theatre enables people with learning disabilities to develop performing arts skills, build confidence, and participate fully in cultural life. The Special Assignments Company (SAC) produces devised work for outdoor and site-specific settings. It is suited to performers who have a flair for the improvised, the surreal, and enjoy responding in the moment in changeable public settings. Blue Apple Theatre is part of Minstead Trust.
- In Common is not for profit. We rely on donations from readers to keep the site running. Could you help to support us for as little as 25p a week? Please help us to carry on offering independent grass roots media. Visit: https://www.patreon.com/incommonsoton