My Shows
Storytelling
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I love stories of from any time & place I tend to focus on ancient and medieval stories. When I perform as a medieval pilgrim, I tell stories I could have collected as I wandered, risking bandits and shipwreck, to visit the Holy Places of Europe and the Near East.
Duration: 30 - 60 minutes |
Firestarter: The Great Revolt, the Peasants Revolt:-
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The Poll Tax, War in Europe, Labour shortages, a Pandemic, an unpopular Government. Discontent finally bubbles up into revolt. The people rise and fires burn.
Livelooped fourteenth century music accompanies the story of the Great Revolt of 1381. This show is a collaboration with Lizzie Gutteridge. Duration: 30, 60 or 90 minute versions. |
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The Iliad
“It was the tenth year of the siege of Troy the year that Calchas, the soothsayer, had predicted that the city would fall”.
This show brings to life this epic tale of bloodshed, tragedy and loss in an energetic and punchy adaptation of the Iliad.
Duration: 60 minute show
This show brings to life this epic tale of bloodshed, tragedy and loss in an energetic and punchy adaptation of the Iliad.
Duration: 60 minute show
Sex, Lyres and Audiotape.
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Harps, lyres, shawms and other ancient instruments scatter the stage to tell the tale of the tragedies, rivalries, joys and scandals of the music of the past. Then you might have enjoyed different music, played different instruments but it wasn't your personal taste that governed your choice but your status, wealth and sex. Come and take a journey through music's fascinating and revealing history and let an experienced storyteller evoke what once was. Duration: 60 minutes |
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Music
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I either have a static display of my ever increasing collection of reproduction ancient and medieval instruments (Lyres, Harps, Dulcimer, Shawms, Crumhorns, Recorders, Bagpipes, Curtals ...) .
Or I perform as a wandering minstrel playing period music on appropriate reproduction instruments. Duration: All day |
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Singalongs
Accompanying myself on the concertina I lead singalongs of popular tunes Duration: 30 - 60 minutes |
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My Workshops
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Music and Dance in Tudor Theatre
Music was a vital part of Tudor theatre & a jig (comic song & dance) was an expected end to any play. This workshop explores why music and dance was so important as well as teaching period dances. Duration: 60-90 minutes |
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Medieval Dance
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Dance was a vital part of medieval society. Medieval dances are taught to live music. The dances are very accesible and a lot of fun Duration: 30-60 minutes |
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Storytelling
This is an interactive workshop and covers a large variety of storytelling aspects depending on the length of the workshop. It can include, performance practice and advice, story structure, use of music, how to choose your repetoire, how to inhabit your storytelling and much more. Duration: 90 minutes to a 2 day workshop |
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Other workshops
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Juggling
A beginners juggling workshop for all ages. I pride myself at being able to teach basic juggling skills to people who have never managed to grasp it before. Balloon modelling Providing all the equipment I show people how to make a variety of balloon models. Much laughter usually ensues. Duration: Drop in workshop. Spend as long as you like. |
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My Talks
I also give talks on various aspects of medieval life and the history of music in a storytelling style in order to entertain as well as educate. I frequently wear medieval costume (either peasant or noble) and use many other authentic reproduction - and a few original - items and furniture to add atmosphere and happily encourage people to handle the instruments afterwards.
Music and the Black Death
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An journey through how people reacted to the Black Death in 1348:- Hid away; Found scapegoats; sought God's forgiveness; went on pilgrimage; partied their last days away.
Period music played on reproduction instruments ending with a medieval dance. Duration: 60 minutes |
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Medieval Pilgrimage; its dangers, rewards and scandals.
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Medieval pilgrimage was a wide and varied thing. It could be a journey of less than a mile or more than three thousand. It was a punishment as well as a reward. It was a devout or salacious. Includes time for questions. Duration:- 60 minutes |
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Music and Religion in the West; Ancient to Medieval.
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Using music and storytelling a tale of how religion and music intertwinded from the start of recorded history to the end of the medieval period. Duration:- 60 minute talk including time for questions. |
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Medieval Travellers
Medieval people actually travelled a great deal. The great and the good, the poor and the desperate. Pilgrims, performers, ambassadors and merchants.
Duration:- 90 minute talk with time for questions.
Medieval Minstrels.
Using reproduction instrument the world of the medieval minstrel is explored. How they lived outside the normal restrictions and benefits of the medieval world.
Duration:- 60 minute show including time for questions.
Duration:- 60 minute show including time for questions.
History's Greatest Musical Rivalry: The Harp and the Lyre.
It's a rivalry that has been going on for 6000 years. With music on various reproduction harps and lyres.
Duration:- 15 minutes
Duration:- 15 minutes
The Story of Crumhorns:-
A short show that allows my crumhorns to come out and play where I perform on them as I tell the tale of when the crumhorns appeared, thrived, fell and revived.
Duration:- 10 minutes
A short show that allows my crumhorns to come out and play where I perform on them as I tell the tale of when the crumhorns appeared, thrived, fell and revived.
Duration:- 10 minutes