The Charles Causley Trust prides itself on our collaboration and partnership working with charities, organisations and educational establishments across Cornwall, as well as nationally and internationally, to support the arts.
One of the amazing Cornish organisations we work with is KEAP (Kernow Education Arts Partnership), an arts education charity set up in 2001 by Arts Council England in partnership with Cornwall Council.
Over the last 15 years, KEAP has grown in skills, experience and reputation. As an organisation, they aim to enhance learning and participation through the arts and offer a variety of events, educational and training programmes, conferences and workshops.
Recently, too, KEAP has evolved and developed a completely new initiative, The Story Republic, which celebrates the place of story in Cornwall’s culture. They will be featuring in our 2020 digital Causley Festival of Arts and Literature.
In the meantime, we wanted to share their latest project, a series of digital stories sharing the joy of The Story Republic while our access to the arts is restricted during lockdown.
The full series of four stories can be found on KEAP’s Facebook page and YouTube channel links at the bottom of the page. In the meantime click on this link and experience the tale of Lucy Wild Hair. Here’s a summary.
Lucy Wild Hair or The Case of the Tarred Pillow by Anna Maria Murphy.
This story was written several years ago by Anna Maria Murphy as part of a writers’ residency on Tresco in the Isles of Scilly, and broadcast by BBC Radio 4. It was inspired by an overheard conversation between a group of girls on the ferry to St Mary’s, who were on their way to meet their friends in the hairdressing club…
It is a delight that we are able to present it again in a different form, with a backdrop of a new film created by Connie Crosby and Neal Megaw. All of it has been filmed under lockdown rules with what is around them and making the most of the small relaxation of being allowed to drive for exercise or work. Also, all the readers have been recorded separately in their homes. It is the art of our times! We hope you enjoy it.
The characters are performed by Connie Crosby, Olivia Lowry, Jo Lumber, Nina Hills, Melanie Young and Keith Sparrow. The film was made by Connie Crosby and Neil Megaw. Shot, edited and mixed by Neil Megaw. Directed by Connie Crosby. Featuring music adapted from a Charles Causley poem and composed by Rick Williams. Thanks to Arts Council England for the funding to enable these stories to be made.