Below is text of a news release sent to local media:
Extra interest was provided on 27 May by a Sir Walter Raleigh on horseback - a star appearance of Rob Batson on Donut, from Budleigh Salterton Riding School http://www.devonriding.co.uk/ Sadly Rob and Donut will be unable to take part in the 28 August tableau
'The Boyhood of Raleigh' was the 1870 work of pre-Raphaelite artist Sir John Everett Millais, painted, so it is said, as a clarion call to empire and foreign adventure and still familiar to many people today through reproductions in millions of homes.
With the
approaching 400th anniversary of Sir Walter Raleigh’s death,
community organisations near his birthplace are planning events to celebrate
one of Devon’s most important historical figures, seen as a founder of one of
the first English-speaking colonies in America.
Preparing for the tableau re-enacting Sir John Everett Millais' 1870 painting of 'The Boyhood of Raleigh' on 28 May 2018. L-r: Frank (playing Walter Raleigh), his twin brother Henry (Humphrey Gilbert) with Nick Speare (The Sailor)
While his
home village of East Budleigh is holding a street party, the Raleigh Wall on
Budleigh Salterton beach will see volunteers from the Art Club and Fairlynch
Museum acting out roles in the painting’s composition, including the sailor
with his outstretched arm and two local children playing the parts of young
Walter and his half-brother Humphrey Gilbert.
Nick Speare (The Sailor) shows off his earring
They will be
joined by other volunteers in Elizabethan costume, including an adult Sir
Walter Raleigh. Art Club vice-chairman John Washington will perform as Millais
himself. Both events take place during the afternoon of Bank Holiday Monday 27
August.
Katie (Walter Raleigh) and Isla (Humphrey Gilbert), both aged 8, meet the 'real' Sir Walter Raleigh. Isla looks as if she's seen a ghost
‘People
enjoyed seeing our first performance on 27 May so much that we decided it
deserved a repeat,’ said John. ‘We welcome anyone – girls as well as boys
– wanting to play the part of the
children in the painting between 2.00 and 4.00 pm. Elizabethan costume is
available and all that’s needed is to sit still for 20 minutes or so and show
what a good actor you are! It helps to
look at the painting first.’
Katie and Isla learn about dressing as Elizabethans from Fairlynch Museum Head of Costume Betty Hebditch, whose team of volunteer helpers made the replica costumes
The original painting is still on display at Budleigh’s Fairlynch Museum. There is still free admission to most of the building, but this year there is a charge of £3 for the Raleigh 400 exhibition. There is no charge for children.
The Raleigh 400 Millais tableau re-enactment on 27 May: (back row) Nick Speare, Anthea Downes, Michael Downes, Rosemary Griggs, John Washington, Chris Fry; front row: Ollie and Bailey appearing respectively as Walter and Humphrey. All the above photos were by Rob Coombe for Matt Austin Images
Some comments
have been made about girls appearing in the re-enactment. ‘One of my friends
told me that Millais would be spinning in his grave at the thought,’ admitted
John. ‘However we had three pairs of children performing at the previous
re-enactment in May – including a couple of girls – and they all really enjoyed
finding out about Raleigh and Millais. It would be a shame to exclude anyone
from a fun event like this.’
Over 1,000
children at local schools are now involved in the Museum’s education outreach
programme thanks to a Heritage Lottery Fund grant and National Lottery players.
If you are
aged between 7 and 15 and would like to take part in the re-enactment of ‘The
Boyhood of Raleigh’ on Monday 27 August please contact Michael Downes on 01395
446407 or mr.downes@gmail.com
The front page of the Budleigh Journal, Wednesday 15 August 2018, by Daniel Wilkins
FOR THE RALEIGH 400 CALENDAR OF
EVENTS WORLDWIDE
IN 2018 CLICK ON
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