Eleanor Farjeon |
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Summer 2006
Elsie Piddock Skips in her Sleep
In association with The Ashden Charitable Trust, East Sussex Arts Partnership and Farnham Maltings, Paddock Productions presented an outdoor theatre version of Eleanor Farjeon’s classic children’s book, Elsie Piddock Skips in Her Sleep, to family audiences in rural communities. The performances took place on village greens, in village festivals, and on school playing fields throughout East Sussex.
In collaboration with English Nature, we performed the play on top of Mount Caburn, where the story is set. This blustery and shower-ridden Saturday afternoon in July saw over 250 people in family groups get out in the spectacular Sussex countryside and hike up the Mount. They were treated to not only the performance, but also nature and conservation displays, nature walks led by experienced guides, and a picnic lunch in a large marquee. It was a unique event, and a great profile-raiser for the conservation work of English Nature and the Paddock. Given that the Elsie Piddock story is in large measure set upon Caburn, it was a magical setting for the performance, and one we will never forget, with the Downs providing and majestic backdrop.
In total, the piece played 21 venues, to an estimated audience in the region of 2600 people. Venues ranged from school playing fields to castles, from open-air arenas to cricket pitches and public parks. We sold in excess of 200 skipping ropes to children who, inspired by the story and characters, tried their hands at skipping, participating in skipping workshops and demonstrations led by company members.
Back to the topAutumn 2005
Red All Over
Hotel. Late Night. Black is getting blacker and
white is getting whiter.
In association with the Lewes Live Literature Festival, the Paddock devised a site-specific play to be performed in six rooms of the Pelham House Hotel, the venue of the festival. Audiences moved from room to room watching as four people – a hotel owner, his wife, his employee, and an old friend – grapple with race, class, sex, and the secrets between them. The play was written and directed by Susannah Waters, Artistic Director of the Paddock, and designed by our Associate Designer, Num Stibbe. It sold out over five performances, and was consequently awarded a grant by the Arts Council in 2008 for further development into a full-length, two act play.
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2005 and 2004
The Young Visiters
In 2004, as part of the Write Next Door project, The Paddock created a theatrical production of nine year-old Daisy Ashford’s 1890 novel, The Young Visiters. The production – directed, designed and performed by professional artists in the community – was performed in 12 private houses – open to the general public as well as friends and family – and at a sold-out performance in the Lewes Live Literature Festival. It was immediately revived for further performances in December 2004, and in 2005, we toured the production throughout the UK.
 2006 Elsie Piddock Skips in her Sleep 2005 Red All Over 2005 and 2004 TheYoung Visitors
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Company - Red All Over
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| Miss Daisy Ashford Please click for more details |
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