We invite you to sit back, relax and experience Woodhorn Museum as never before. This wildly imaginative and playful film will appeal to all the family. But watch out, you might have a little jump as we venture down the mine.
The film will be available to view below from 7pm on Wednesday 18 November 2020.
‘A Touch of Colour’ is a new film by Let’s Circus commissioned by Museum Northumberland. The film was made during summer 2020 when, during closure due to COVID-19, Woodhorn Museum opened its doors for a circus creative takeover.
2020 has been a very difficult year for most people. Like many other businesses and individuals, in March 2020 museums were closed and artists found themselves out of work. We had been planning a winter exhibition about geology, but in the midst of a global pandemic and national lockdown, our plan suddenly needed a rethink.
The title of the film, ‘A Touch of Colour’ is taken from a quote from pitman, painter and member of the Ashington Group of artists Jimmy Floyd, who described how:
“at one time I used to paint drab sorts of pictures, but now I like a bit colour, such as a fairground, or circus or something like that”.
Circus is a traditional artform enjoyed by the people of Northumberland for centuries. A much-anticipated day out, a chance to dream and escape their every day. Inside a big top tent the artists performed amazing feats, the seemingly impossible.
Much like a blank canvas for Jimmy, Let’s Circus created a moving picture inspired by the empty museum. They brought their ‘Woodhome’ to life in a new way for audiences to enjoy at home, taking you on a magical journey through the museum in new and surprising ways!
Now, more than ever, we are determined to bring people ‘A Touch of Colour’. Something different and unexpected, something that could help make people smile, laugh and maybe even ‘wow’ in these difficult days. And so, in summer Museums Northumberland handed Woodhorn’s keys to Let’s Circus who brought ‘A Touch of Colour’ back the closed museum to life!
We invite you to sit back, relax and experience Woodhorn Museum as never before. This wildly imaginative and playful film will appeal to all the family. But watch out, you might have a little jump as we venture down the mine.
PRODUCER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Helen Averley
DIRECTOR & CINEMATOGRAPHY
Ken Fanning
CIRCUS ARTISTS
Ring Master – Steve Cousins
Museum Caretaker – Matthew Tiffany
DJ Flossie – Helen Averley
Silk Aerialists – Freya Averley & Lynn Campbell
Tight Wire – Angelique Ross
Acrobatics & Aerial Straps – Wilf Campbell
Human Horses – Angelique Ross, Freya Averley, Matthew Tiffany, Wilf Campbell
Starfish – Hannah Thompson, Joe Edwards, Mia Simon, Tschou Witshel, Jessica Johansen, Freya Averley
ARTISTS
Horse Visitors – Bobby & Peggy Sue
Dogs – Buffer & Scribble
CAMERA
Camera – Ken Fanning
Drone – Kevin Rigby
Supplementary Camera – Steve Cousins & Helen Averley
SOUND & TECH
Lead Technician – Kevin Rigby
Composer & Audio Technician – J.W. Edwards
Tunes – Wolf Head and Pig Face
Fire Tech – Steve Cousins
Health & Safety – Helen Averley
POST PRODUCTION
Film Editor – Ken Fanning & Neil Hainsworth
Voices – Neil Hainsworth & Helen Ashton
CREW
Steve Cousins, Kevin Rigby, Helen Averley, Mia Simon, Tschou Witshel
SET, PROPS & COSTUME
Let’s Circus
The Last Coal from Shotton Colliery
CATERING
Let’s Circus
ANIMALS WELFARE
Horses – Becky Madeley
Dogs – Helen Averley
With special thanks to the staff at Woodhorn Museum
Filmed exclusively on location at our lockdown “Woodhome” Woodhorn Museum
COMMISSIONED BY
Museums Northumberland
SUPPORTED BY
Arts Council England
Northumberland County Council
Erasmus Plus
All rights reserved 2020
