07/10/2022
Five years since was published - congratulations to and , and massive thanks to our goldfinches, ravens, barn owls and heron for making our productions so special xx
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The Lost Words: Told In Gold
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"The Lost Words: Told In Gold" is the Outdoor Theatre Companion to The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane & Jackie Morris.
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Having read Robert Macfarlane’s other writing during my training as a forest school leader a few years ago, when I spotted this golden tome on display in Sainsbury’s, I virtually pushed people out of the way to get my hands on it! I inhaled a deep breath as I focussed on the astonishing cover illustration by Jackie Morris. (And as anyone who knows me will tell you, the connection between the breath and inspiration is at the centre of what I do creatively). For the next forty-eight hours, my eight year old son and I poured over The Lost Words, sometimes reading Robert’s word-spells, sometimes sitting in silence with Jackie’s paintings pointing at our discoveries but, most importantly, feeling the constant compulsion to speak the words out loud over the illustrations.
“Once Upon a Time, words began to vanish from the language of children…” starts the story of The Lost Words… As a theatre maker, a voice coach and a champion of the brilliance of children, I’ve never heard such a clear clarion call. This, and the delight of sitting with my son and the book, was enough internal nudging to realise that I had to turn this into a piece of outdoor theatre. So, I did everything to contact Robert and Jackie for permission – I even signed up to Twitter! They agreed and I am very thankful.
Imagine then my next joy when Rowan and Sarah at Wild Rumpus offered to commission and co-produce it for a major new festival with the National Forest Company, TIMBER. As a family, we have been fans of their outdoor arts work for years so I am delighted to be working with them and their wonderful team.
As part of my research, I went to listen to Jackie speak and watch her paint recently. She spoke with heart of her dismay at the notion that some things are ‘too good for children’ and ‘that’ll do…it’s only for kids’. She said she writes and illustrates books for ‘people…people…some are young people… some are older people…. people.’ I share that sentiment entirely in
