Iron-Brow and Thorn-Coat - Part 2
This spring I have been immersed in a rather special project. I have been working in close collaboration with writer/storyteller Tom Hirons and artist Rima Staines, who together make Hedgespoken, a travelling storytelling theatre company, and Hedgespoken Press, an independent publishing company.
This April, we rehearsed and launched the first two public shows of Iron-Brow and Thorn-Coat, a retelling of a classic Lithuanian folktale. Steeped in old magic and half-familiar memories, this beguiling tale of magical transformation, love, betrayal and endurance weaves together storytelling, puppetry, mask-work, foolery and live music…
I had the pleasure of co-directing and co-producing this piece, working with an extraordinarily creative, compassionate and good-humoured team of artistic folk (credited opposite). I also got to do what I love best - wood carving! The puppet for this project was carved by myself and Rima Staines, with advice from master puppet makers John Roberts and Jan Zalud. To view more photos and videos of the puppet being made, visit Iron-Brow and Thorn Coat - the making of part 1 . Iron-Brow-Brow and Thorn-Coat will continue it’s journey this year as we take it into the great outdoors. More news to come!
Iron-Brow and Thorn-coat
by HEDGESPOKEN
Players:
Storytelling
Tom Hirons
Puppetry, maskwork, foolery
Helen Aldrich
Musicians
Louis Bingham
Griselda Sanderson
Creative Team:
Artistic direction and production
Sarah Vigars
Performance direction and puppet direction
Howard Gayton
Design and artistic direction
Rima Staines
Puppet-carving
Rima Staines and Sarah Vigars
(with assistance from Jan Zalud and John Roberts)
Mask-carving
Jan Zalud
Writing and story-development
Tom Hirons
Production Photography
Lawrence Galloway
