During a brief cessation in the day’s steady precipitation, I took a walk down to Roger’s gate and back. A solitary wasp fed on blackberries in the hedgerow.
Following my post on Robin Hood Theatre, Becky and I couldn’t quite remember whether NITS had performed there. ( Louisa has subsequently told me they did). We did both, however remember an open air performance staged around a bench in the grounds of Newark Castle on 20th July 1996.
I photographed the event, and, today, scanned 20 photographic prints which depict the first part of the story. Entitled ‘Park Life’, two years after Blur’s eponymous hit record, NITS put on an excellent mime enjoyed by many local people.
In presenting these images, I will leave readers to provide their own text:
Louisa is behind this mask.
Josie King, in the red dress, who stands by her daughter, was the manager of the Robin Hood Theatre at that time. We bought Lindum House from her and her husband, Norman.
Among the spectators were our friends Pat and Pete Jones, whose son Tom appears in the next scene with which I will continue tomorrow. Anyone who finds Pete familiar will have seen him in the corner of their TV screens when watching Channel Four News, or on stage interpreting Shakespeare for audiences. He was signing for deaf people.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s classic chicken jalfrezi, pilau rice, onion bhajis, and samosas. My choices of the available desserts were egg custard and cheesecake, and of beverages, Cimarosa reserva cabernet sauvignon 2013.
The disturbing nature of those masks is only exceeded by the awesomeness of the Iron Maiden t-shirt as well as my penchant for being disturbed.
Eddie lives!
Thanks, Jim. I hope it will not disturb your sleep
I thrive on oddities. No sleep lost at all. Normalcy will keep me up for days however. So, carry on good sir!
It’s as fascinating looking at the audience faces as it is the masks – some great shots in there Derrick!
Thank you, Pauline. Audiences always fascinate me.
I agree, the audience photos were great. The performers looked as if they were planning a heist. I like that shopping basket. Nice dinner too.
Thank you, Mary.
Wonderful and creepy! Some really enjoyable photos 🙂
Thank you, Matt
I love the utter abandoned strange of this frolicking!! What fun!
Thank you Candice
Did any of the audience participate? That would be another sort of performance art! I love the masks and guessing actor’s intentions.
Thank you, Cynthia. No, the audience just watched, enthralled
This reminds me a bit of the Bread and Puppet Theater in Vermont. Have you heard of them?
This is such an interesting post! Thank-you, Derrick
Thank you, Claire. Not heard of Bread and Puppet. Glad you liked it
“Better than any argument is to rise at dawn and pick dew-wet red berries in a cup.” Wendell Berry
Thank you, Johnna
Fun and not scary, but yes as someone said, creepy. Interesting times Derrick.
Thank you, Mary
Great photos! Though I agree with everyone: Creepy!
But my, you dine like royalty!
Thank you, Oscar
Love the Park Life shots. The masks are stunning.
Tank you, Inese