RSC At the Forest’s Edge
Roots, Willow sculptural installation in conjunction with Escape Arts and The Royal Shakespeare Company, RSC, Bancroft Terrace, Stratford Upon Avon. Particular thanks to artists Alison Duddle and Sophia Clist, to Claire at Warwickshire Willow, and at the RSC to Nicky Salmon, Ida Ballerini, Helen Hughes, Pete Griffin, Martin Robinson and Rachel Sharpe.
At the Forests Edge
At The Forest’s Edge was an RSC co created creative placemaking project which drew inspiration from the plays Hamnet, based on Maggie O'Farrell's best-selling novel, and As You Like It by William Shakespeare which performed on RSC stages in Summer 2023. Artists Miriam Nabarro and Gemma Kerr devised and led this placemaking project over a 9 month period, leading to a sculpture trail in 6 locations around Stratford upon Avon, over 55 community workshops and 3 public events reaching over 1000 participants and audiences, celebrating nature, human relationships and what it means to be Living on the Forest’s Edge. It celebrated community and creativity that everyone can engage with and enjoy, and amplified voices of residents, especially the voices from underrepresented communities, telling some of the untold stories of Stratford upon Avon. Working with an incredible team of local artists, willow sculptors, community gardeners, choreographers and musicians, together with 6 community partners (Escape Arts, Fred Winters Centre, Sporting Memories, Copernicana, Clopton Connect and New Meaning Stratford), we created sculptures, installations, soundscapes and wildflower meadows across the town. Originally commissioned to be in situ for 12 weeks, 4 of the 6 sites are still installed and publicly accessibly 14 months on! Visual minuting created by Julia Miranda.
Co Lead Artists: Miriam Nabarro and Gemma Kerr.
Associate willow artist and Puppet artist: Alison Duddle
Community Artists: Lisa Franklin, Emma Waterford, Kurly McGeachie
Composer: Peter Vilk
Movement: Lynnebec
Producers (RSC): Nicola Salmon and Ida Ballerini
Participatory advice/ outside eye: Sue Mayo
