See what happened when the Green Woman team took up residence in All Souls Hall, Cheriton!
In November and December of 2024 Anna Braithwaite (composer and performer) and Emma Bernard (theatre director) took up residence in All Souls Hall, Cheriton, Kent.
They ran informal drop-in sessions where they met with locals for a friendly chat and a cuppa and generated ideas for creating a unique Green Woman show for Cheriton.
The live performance of Green Woman took place in All Souls Hall as part of the Folkestone Living Advent Calendar in December 2024.
To see a film of the live Green Woman show please go to the gallery.
Green Woman at All Souls craft club
The highly skilled women of All Souls craft club came up with the idea of making a banner for the Green Woman. Hand sewn from repurposed garments, scraps of trimmings (just like the jacket the women of Nonington had made), it was perfect!
Members of the group also shared memories of the steam laundries which used to be the main industry in Cheriton. These stories were woven into a song called ‘Washer, woman’ which was sung by Anna and the audience during the show.
Local community gardeners ‘Incredible Edible’ supplied greenery to decorate the hall and gave feedback on aspects of the show during rehearsal.
“I gained a lot of insight into how these projects develop. I also think my confidence grew”
*
“I gained a lot of insight into how these projects develop. I also think my confidence grew” *
The Cheriton residency in numbers:
Cups of tea that were drunk: 402
Biscuits that were eaten: 276
Songs that were written: 2
Bells that were rung: 19
Pantomime performers on stage: 5
Hooden horses made: 17
Performances: 2
Green Woman at All Souls Cheriton
• Paper Horses Family Workshop •
Green Woman at All Souls Cheriton • Paper Horses Family Workshop •
Family
'paper horses'
workshop
Inspired by the Kentish folk tradition of Hoodening, where people perform traditional plays or ‘menace’ passers-by on the street or in pubs, dressed as a 'Hooden Horse', this family workshops were held on Nov. 16th 2024 at Folkestone Museum.
The parents and children made some fantastic new horses and paraded around Folkestone Museum to the delight of the visitors.
The workshop was led by theatre makers Anna Braithwaite and Emma Bernard, and artist Matt Rowe.
Entrance was free and all materials were provided.
Film by Matt Rowe.