For coffee-lovers, creatives and countryside adventurers
.png)
Documentary video by You Films
@you.films | youfilms.co.uk
800
Artists and Volunteers Involved
30
Immersive Theatre Shows
(in just 3 days!)
Community Workshop Days
0
0
The project ran from May - August with a series of community theatre workshops helping us build the show which was performed on the 29th, 30th and 31st of August 2024
Imprints: Tales from the New Wild was the first ever site-specific, outdoor theatre show to be performed at Bolton Gate Farm, combining a professional cast and crew with members of the local community, to tell a story of the myths and legends of the Staffordshire Moorlands.
People Engaged
Photos by Holly Johnson | @hollyjohnson.photography
When the world as we know it is a distant memory, and nature has reclaimed the land, what marks will we leave behind? What are the stories that will remain and who will tell them...? Welcome to the New Wild!
Set in a post-apocalyptic landscape, unshackled from human greed, the fantastical creatures of myth and legend and nature have begun to roam the Moorlands again. Elves, oracles and giants, Moorlanders of all kinds bustle in the New Wild Market, a meeting place where people trade stories and songs for goods and services. But all is not well, as the Wallaby Queen begins to impose new rules on the marketplace and a return to the old ways of living. Join Diglet and Megany as they uncover brooding secrets, awaken legends, and overcome dangers to meet the mysterious creature at the top of the hill...
The NEW Bolton Gate Arts Community Theatre Group are teaming up with puppet maker Red Thing Creations and Arts Hill Volunteer Performer Group and working alongside professional creatives and performers to bring you the FIRST EVER Community Theatre Production here at Bolton Gate Farm!
Let us take you on a journey of myths, legends and the magic of the Staffordshire Moorlands, as you travel around our rustic farm setting, meeting quirky characters along the way. You can expect puppetry, music, wild stories and lots of fun in this family friendly production!
the Show...
Collaboration and Community
Imprints: Tales from the New Wild was a theatre project created in summer 2024. The project was a collaboration between Bolton Gate Arts, Artshill Performer Group and local puppet maker Redthing Creations.
The show was a community theatre show meaning it was created with the help of brilliant local people, some of which went on to perform in the show as well as part of the
Bolton Gate Arts Community Theatre Group.
.png)
Project Themes
The Moorlands is teeming with fascinating geological landscapes, mythology, folklore, and untapped narratives of nature and the wild. But how does this impact us, the people that live there? Our relationship with such a beautiful natural landscape and what is the story waiting to be told?
The show explored the themes of local mythology, storytelling, nature, climate change and celebrated some of the folklore of the Staffordshire Moorlands, by weaving mythical tales into the show's narrative.
The Making of the Show...
Creative Workshops
From May - August the team conducted a series of free workshops at Bolton Gate Farm and in selected community locations, teaching new skills and collecting the untold stories of the wild Moorland countryside.
With the help of our incredible workshop leaders we delivered workshops in performance, creative writing, music, storytelling, puppet making, puppetry, prop making, nature walks, outdoor theatre, environmental workshops & more. Workshops took place in community partner venues including Werrington Community Library, Kingsley Holt Centre, The Venue in Tean, St Margaret's Church in Draycott and Caverswall Creative Hub, reaching people in rural parts of the Staffordshire Moorlands. Approximately 371 people attended one of our 13 workshop days.
All of the material created in the workshops has inspired and driven the creation of the very first site-specific theatre piece to be performed at Bolton Gate.
volunteer performers
With the support of the Artshill Performer Group, Bolton Gate Arts has been able to set up its very own Bolton Gate Arts Community Theatre Group offering opportunities to perform and be part of the making of a professional theatre show. 16 volunteers were part of the final productions either performing or assisting backstage. Volunteers made up the Moorlanders at our magical market place, inventing a group of mystical characters to immerse the audience into the world of the play.
We have met many wonderful people in the making of the show, and the newly established Bolton Gate Arts Community Theatre Group will play a big role in future productions and shaping the future of the company.
If you are interested in being a part of the Bolton Gate Arts Community Theatre Group please email arts@boltongatefarm.co.uk for more details
.png)
.png)
Workshops we delivered...
).png)
Cast and Creative Team...
Cast
Tom Bolam - Diglet
Carys Jones - Megany
Lynne Payne - Queen Wallaby/Death
Kate Powell - The Oracle/ The Murderous Mrs Crow/
Keeper of the Light/Puppeteer
Rachael Gladwin - Musician/Moorlander
Richard Redwin - Puppeteer/Moorlander
The Moorlanders:
ArtsHill Performer Group & Bolton Gate Arts Community Theatre Group
Evangeline Grace Cooper
Micheala Cooper
Rachel Bate
Hannah Walton
Carl Wilson
Sam Reddy
Shelagh Sanders
Susan Johnson
Hayley Wheatley
Tristan Chadwick
Rose Snead
Steven Simpson
Karen Gatley
Creative Team
Patrick McConnell - Director
Rachael Gladwin - Musical Director/Composer
Kath Stanway - Creative Producer
Richard Redwin - Production Manager/Puppeteer
Joe Matty - Creative Producer
Emma Sanders - Creative Producer
Dan Jarwoski-Higgs - Set & Prop Designer/Maker
Ilona Alyamani - Costume Designer/Maker/Set Dresser
Members of Caverswall Creative Hub - Costume Making
Peter Wilshaw- Stage Manager
Jessica Simm - Hair & Makeup
Rose Snead - Hair & Makeup
Holly Johnson - Social Media
Angela Johnson - Makaton Signer
Emma Dawson Varughese - Project Evaluation
Backstage Volunteer Team
Sandie Mathews
Mick Bentley
Jude Bentley
Ian Snead
Kevin Sanders
Beverly Cleary
Sue Mascarenhas
Workshop Leads
Rachael Gladwin - Music
Richard Redwin - Puppets
Isla Telford - Outdoor Theatre
Francesca Wheeler - Nature Journalling
Dan Jarwoski-Higgs- Prop Making
Ilona Alyamani- Costume
Julie Moss - Storytelling
Kat Hughes - Creative Writing
Kathryn Kavanagh (Staffs Wildlife) - Walk and Draw
Vicky Broad (Staffs Wildlife) - Bug Hunting
Emily Andrews - Theatre Facilitator
Andrew Kim - Puppets
Community Outreach Venues
Werrington Community Library
The Venue, Tean
Kingsley Holt Centre
Caverswall Creative Hub
St Margaret's Church, Draycott
With Special Thanks to...
Sarah Bird
Joanne Blunt
And everyone who attended one
of our workshops to help make the show!
Tom Bolam
Tom is an actor musician born and bred in the Moorlands and with a Musical Theatre degree from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
If Tom could be an any mythical creature, he'd be a goblin or gremlin so he can cause mischief all day!
Carys Jones
Carys grew up just 20 minutes from the farm and has worked as a professional actor, voice-over artist and creative facilitator for the last 6 years and loves working outdoors!
If Carys was a mythical creature, she would either be a fairy or a mermaid. In typical fashion, she cannot decide between the two.
Lynne
Payne
Lynne lives in Leek and has appeared in numerous theatre, film and TV productions. The work she most enjoys making is comedy - the more silly and surreal, the better. Following this trail of thought, if she could be a mythical creature, she'd be a troll...because she really likes waiting under bridges.
_JPG.jpg)
Kate Powell
Kate can been found playing on stage, off stage, behind the scenes, behind a puppet and beyond.If Kate could be any mythological creature she would be a mermaid (in fact she practically is one!). She loves swimming in nature; wherever she parks her van-home the first task is always to find a lake or river to plunge into the cold waters.
Kath Stanway - Creative Producer
Rachael Gladwin
Rachael is a musician, composer, songwriter, performer and puppeteer working for companies such as Frolicked Outdoor Theatre, B-Arts and Odd Doll Theatre of puppetry. Rachael is also a fantastic harpist and has played all over the world.
If Rachael was a mythical creature she'd be a dragon. She looks for dragons on her family holidays to Wales. She hasn't found one...yet...
Joe Matty - Creative Producer
_JPG.jpg)
Emma Sanders - Creative Producer
The Project was funded by...
Richard Redwin
Richard is an artist, maker, workshop leader and puppeteer, with over a decade of experience in community arts and immersive theatre. His company, Red Thing Creations, specialises in building and operating large-scale puppets for events, parades and outdoor performances
Patrick
McConnell
Patrick is an award winning writer and director working in both stage and screen. He has directed everything from 'Wind in the Willows' to Greek Tragedy 'Medea'.
If Patrick could be any mythical creature, he'd be a Sandman. What a beautfiul thing to send people to sleep wit sweet dreams. Patrick wants everyone to have sweet dreams and be the hero of their own stories.
