“Once upon a time, words began to vanish from the language of children. They disappeared so quietly that at first no-one noticed. Fading away like water on stone. The words were becoming lost, no longer vivid in children’s voices no longer alive in their stories ”
So, begins Jackie Morris and Robert Macfarlane’s award winning book The Lost Words. The book responds to the saddening fact that there are many words of nature that are so depleted from children’s vocabularies that they are no longer entered into the children’s dictionary – words like conker, magpie, heron and dandelion.
This week at Brockhole on Windermere Discovery Centre, the outdoor theatre companion to the book The Lost Words: Told In Gold has built it’s human sized goldfinch nest on the lakeshore for performances all week until 14th September.
This outdoor immersive theatre performance for all ages led by a charm of Britain’s wild birds, who share the story in the nest then take audiences on a gentle stroll through the woods to seek, find and speak The Lost Words’
Theatre Maker and Voice Coach Collette Murray, who adapted and directed this official companion to The Lost Words bought a copy for her on son and knew immediately that she wanted to make a piece from it.
Premiering at Brockhole on Windermere Discovery Centre this week with three shows a day until Sat 14th September – the performance has been visited by schools, families and lovers of nature. Jamie Normington of The Lost Words for Cumbria campaign popped in a show on his way to delivering 200 copies to Cumbria’s primary schools.
Collette Murray says ” Brockhole is a beautiful environment to premier our new show and to discover Britain’s wildlife. We’ve been delighted to welcome audiences to our giant goldfinch nest theatre. We have been made very welcome by the dedicated friendly and knowledgable staff at Brockhole who have taken the message of The Lost Words to heart”
Sam Mason, CEO at Brockhole says – “The short ferry ride across the lake to Brockhole gives perfect access and the venue has free parking all week. We have all got into The Lost Words spirit – our restaurant The Gaddum has created a special The Lost Words menu. Come down and see the show, have a walk round our woodlands and gardens and have some lunch.
Known in its first year as Seek, Find, Speak – this seedling production supported by Arts Council England – has now taken root and is thriving and growing under its new name – Told In Gold. This season brings with it the glorious music from the recently released album ‘Spellsongs’ and features a huge goldfinch nest theatre, stunning projections and installations of Jackie Morris’s golden illustrations and Robert Macfarlane’s words. With sound recordings of the spell poems from some of Britain’s famous voices of all ages and accents, audiences will join the cast, fly with the charm of goldfinches setting the world alight with gold and glitter.
You can book tickets from the Brockhole website at brockhole.co.uk/events or from the visitors centre gift shop.
Told in Gold was hatched by Collette Murray for UnderSong productions and Wild Rumpus in the National Forest last summer. It will be unfolding dreams and songs across the UK 2019 and 2020.
