THE WALTHAMSTOW MYSTERIES
2014 & 2015
Poster for The Walthamstow Mysteries, 2015 by Janet Milner
The Walthamstow Mysteries was a promenade performance in Coppermill Fields, Walthamstow in 2014 and 2015.
The Local Historian and The Lady of the Pageant compete with each other’s versions of history as they take audiences on a fantastical tour round Walthamstow’s past.
Along the way, two ghosts conjure up vignettes of the feud between Earl Waltheof and William the Conqueror; they perform the song of the Mill; they witness the Trial of the Trespassing Cow, leading to a Mummers play finale starring Saint William Morris who battles against the Dragon of Industrial Development to rescue the Angel of Art & Beauty.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
LADY OF THE PAGEANT: Walthamstow grew out of a weald; it sprouted a ham then it flowered a stow.
LOCAL HISTORIAN: No! No! No! Walthamstow was hatched by a feathered welcomare!
LADY OF THE PAGEANT: Piffle! It happened like this: long ago, Walthamstow was born of a woman. She was the grand lady Abbess Wilcuma! She carried it about for nine tiring months and out it came when she sneezed. Atishoo!
LOCAL HISTORIAN: Anyhow, Walthamstow is a good old English name and its meaning cannot be buttered.
THE CREATIVE TEAM
WRITER & PRODUCER - Deborah Nash
DIRECTOR - Becka McFadden
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - Roxana Haines
PUBLICITY DESIGN - Janet Milner
COSTUME DESIGN - Sophie Ruth Donaldson
THE LADY OF THE PAGEANT - Ruth Tapp
THE LOCAL HISTORIAN - Cillian O'Dee
THE SHADE - James Riordan
THE CRESS SELLER - Joanna Simmonett
THE TRESPASSING COW/MUSICIAN - Matt Marks
COSTUME-MAKING
Sophie Ruth Donaldson’s costume designs for the Local Historian, the Lady of the Pageant, the Shade and the Cress-seller all began with a strong silhouette. As the play took place in the marshes, the costumes had to reflect the character, but also stand out from the surroundings (in the case of the two guides) or dissolve into the ‘mistery’ of the marshes (as with the two ghosts).
POSTER DESIGN BY JANET MILNER 2014
Below is a rehearsal of The Walthamstow Mysteries, captured in the marshes in 2014 by documentary film maker Pinny Grylls and Zed Nelson.
This footage is dedicated to the memory of the musician and composer, Matt Marks.
