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Young performers will be lurking around Gorey Castle in December, telling ghost stories by candlelight to anyone who dares listen.
Every Friday, Express presents a selection of online and offline exhibitions, performances, workshops, events and other historic and creative content to help islanders get their weekly dose of culture.
Here's this week's offering...
Pictured: Craig Richards and Dexter Kelly filming 'The Light in the Tunnel'.
Telling ghost stories during winter is a hallowed tradition, a folk custom that stretches back centuries, when families would while away the dark nights with tales of spooks and monsters.
This December, Jersey Youth Performing Arts (JYPA) will be bringing to life four of Jersey’s most haunting tales by candlelight in the Medieval Hall of Mont Orgueil Castle.
JYPA was formed last year to give young islanders aged nine to 18 the opportunity to gain experience in performing arts through monthly workshops with independent industry professionals.
After the pandemic prevented them from rehearsing their first big production, ‘Grease’, the group created a lockdown time capsule, recording a series of weekly videos with its members discussing their experience of the pandemic.
Video: JYPA performed at Reg's Garden this summer.
During the summer, they then took to Reg’s Garden for a series of performances of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.
Their winter performance will be somewhat gloomier, having drawn material from local writer Erren Michael’s books, ‘Jersey Ghost Stories’ and ‘Jersey Legends’.
JYPA chose one of Jersey's most famous legends, 'The Ghost Bride'. Set in the winding lanes of Waterworks Valley, it tells the tale of a cursed bride searching for the man who abandoned her at the altar.
'The Vioge', another traditional tale which tells the story of the demonic spirit, sometimes seen in the form of a sinister scarecrow, who is said to grab his victims by the ankles and drag them to his secret lair on La Ruette a la Vioge, also features.
Pictured: Tom and Annigna Kennedy of Little River Pictures with Charlie Dunn as the Vioge.
They have also picked two newer stories, 'The Light in the Tunnel' and 'The Little House on the Hill'. The former revisits Jersey's wartime past when two boys ignore their parent's warnings and decide to investigate an abandoned bunker while the latter tells the story of a young man who discover a terrible secret hidden beneath his cellar.
To accompany the stories, JYPA has worked with Little River Pictures to film a series of videos around the island. They will be projected onto the wall of the Medieval Hall during the performance.
JYPA will be performing at Gorey Castle on 5, 6, 12 and 13 December at 15:00, 17:00 and 19:00. Due to the current restrictions on audience numbers, the production will be filmed and released online at a later date.
Jersey-born actor Joss MacDonald has created an abstract piece about how a creative person feels when confined to a world with little creativity.
Joss not only wrote 'Artist in Lockdown' but also performs on the video, available on 'ArtHouseJersey Presents'. He worked with Michael Lynch who acts as Artistic Director for Project Lockout, a UK physical theatre company, on the video which is part of a series exploring creativity during the pandemic.
Pictured: Joss wrote and performs in 'Artist in Lockdown'.
Joss took both an abstract and literal approach to the work, asking the question, 'what would happen if a lonely artist continued to have their mind buzzing with infinite ideas without any place to unleash them?'
“For me, lockdown proved just how powerful creativity can be," Joss said. "Even when pushed to such an extreme limit, the artistic community still manages to support and encourage each other, even when we can’t be in the same room.
"Yes, it has been an incredibly tough year for many of us, but I’m hoping that next year will bring a boom of exciting projects as the world tries to reset."
Jersey Heritage has partnered with Beresford Street Kitchen, which runs La Hougue Bie Tea Room, to launch a new self-guided walking tour through the lanes around La Hougue Bie.
Starting from the Neolithic site, the trail, which can be downloaded on site via a QR code or found on Jersey Heritage’s website, invites islanders to learn more about farmhouses, orchards, Eden Chapel, St. Michael’s School and a 19th century granite lavoir.
At the end of the walk, visitors are invited to in for refreshments at the Tearooms and sample their selection of cakes.
Pictured: 'Handmade' includes a selection of original prints and new editions.
A selection of original prints and new editions is currently on display at CCA Galleries International.
‘Handmade’ showcases new work by artists the gallery has worked with over many years such as Barbara Rae, Sir Peter Blake, Rose Blake, Dan Baldwin and Bruce McLean, as well as artists and print makers that have not shown in Jersey before, including Lucie Bennett, Gavin Turk and Jacky Tsai.
“I’m looking forward to having such a diverse and brilliant mix of established and up and coming artist’s work in the gallery and sharing the work with both canny collectors and those new to the excitement of contemporary art,” Gallery Director, Sasha Gibb, said.
Pictured: The exhibition continues until 29 January.
“With work from a few hundred pounds upwards, it’s a brilliantly inclusive show for Christmas and a chance to own work by some of the most interesting artists working today.”
As part of the exhibition, which continues until 29 January, CCA Galleries will be holding an online print demonstration and discussion with artist Bruce McLean and Gillian Duke from Worton Hall Studios between 15:30 and 17:00 on 7 December
“Bruce and Gillian will be silk screen printing a current edition whist discussing art, printing and no doubt life in general,” Mrs Gibb explained. “Bruce has worked with CCA for nearly 30 years and is one of the most collectable printers of the current generation, as well as an amusing raconteur.”
Pictured: 16 New Street is all decked out in Georgian style.
The National Trust’s 16 New Street recently received a traditional Georgian winter theme makeover ahead of the start of its Christmas tours and activities.
The three-story home will transport visitors back in time to experience an authentic Georgian Christmas, using bay, holly and laurel collected from the Trust’s land and infusing the home with nostalgic Christmassy smells.
16 New Street will welcome school children, shoppers and members of the public as it delivers its special events including Candlelit Tours, late night openings and visits from Father Christmas. The Georgian house will be open for viewing on selected dates in December with visitors encouraged to book their space.
Pictured: The feature arrangement over the front door was installed by Eden By Claire.
The Skipton Community Fund provided £1,500 of funding to cover the cost of decorating the venue, including a giant Christmas tree and natural floral feature arrangements.
In addition, Skipton’s Lorraine Mclean and Lucy Munroe lent the National Trust their time by volunteering to put up the decorations and transforming the home. They were joined by nearly 20 National Trust volunteers who took two days to complete the finishing touches to the building.
“Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to make this Christmas one to remember and in particular to Skipton International who offered their support with our traditional decorations,” Catherine Ward, Museum and Collections Manager of the National Trust, said.
“Skipton are wonderful when it comes to supporting local charities and community projects and with the grant from the Skipton Community Fund the Trust is hopeful that this year’s Christmas installation will provide a magnificent backdrop for our forthcoming programme of community events.”
Pictured: Skipton’s Lorraine Mclean and Lucy Munroe volunteered to put up the decorations.
Lorraine Mclean, Mortgage Sales Manager, added: “With so many charities having been hit hard this year, we are delighted to be able to help the National Trust deliver Christmas with an historic twist. It really is a wonder to tour 16 New Street and with our support we hope to keep their Christmas traditions alive, encouraging more to learn about our island’s heritage.”
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