FeralTales
An otherworldly collection of digital performances born of a unique period of forced isolation in a time of national upheaval.
About the work
From two video submissions and one poem, the three tales are interconnected through themes of death, portent and a flavour of the supernatural.
Set in three atmospheric locations found in Hereford city, the rural Golden Valley and the market town of Ledbury, the pieces reflect genuine historical experiences of past residents from each building. Their experiences have parallels with modern lockdown life — be it restriction, illness or apprehension — and the characters’ inner voices pertain to feelings of their worlds’ colliding with that of the afterlife.
“Thank you. It was a minor miracle that you pulled this off.”
How we made it
Emerging directly from the crisis, our aim was to create work that would serve the Herefordshire community and also reach far and wide via digital means. We wanted to enable connectedness and provided a conduit to creative expression during this difficult period of isolation.
In partnership with our friends at The Courtyard, Hereford’s Centre for the Arts, we issued a public call for creative submissions drawing on emotional responses to Lockdown from members of the community.
Under the banner of ‘Isolation Creations’, our call for photos, songs, short stories, paintings, poems and scripts resulted in a raft of cross-artform submissions received and subsequently shared across social media.
Three pieces of particular historical and geographical significance were then selected and have been developed into digital theatre pieces that we are delighted to share with you as Feral Tales.
“Such a clever way to bring us all together when we are all forced to be apart.”
Performances
Written and developed by Estelle van Warmelo and Feral writer-in-residence, Sara-Jane Arbury, The Tale of White Cottage, The Tale of Meadow House and The Tale of Butcher’s Alley were shot in September and released as digital video productions in early October 2020. They are now available to be viewed on our YouTube channel.
Cast / crew
Director – Estelle van Warmelo
Writers – Estelle van Warmelo and Sara-Jane Arbury
Digital Director – Lisle Turner
Cinematography – Kie Cummings
Music and Sound – Livi van Warmelo
Production and Costume Design – Carl Davies
Cast – Jenny-May While, Alison Allan and Madeleine MacMahon
Production Manager – Mina Nakamura
Unit Runners – Amy Sheridan and Lottie Humphreys
Visual Artist – Jeanette McCulloch
Musicians – Toby Anderson and Alex Wilson
Supported by
