Explore The Arch round off the season with magical celebration of English culture and literature

Following on from the huge success of their created houses for Burns Night, St Patrick’s Day and St David’s Day, the Explore the Arch team end their current season applying their own brand of celebration to St George’s Day.

The group of musicians, actors and artists explore their passions and present their perspectives on English culture and literature between 7.30 and 10pm on Monday and Tuesday 25 and 26 April at Archer Lodge in St Leonards.

For two evenings only, the large Victorian house on a sleepy residential road will be transformed into The House of St George and the 400 Shakespeares – a magical world of performance, imagery, music, stories and characters.

Viewers wander over two floors exploring original and brilliantly-crafted created responses to an eclectic mix of texts, sounds, ideas and subjects.

Discover drum and bass in a dragon’s lair under the stairs.  Encounter a young boy’s passion for football in an upstairs room. Explore lazy days on the river in the grand drawing room. Experience unique and vibrant performances and installations reflecting topics ranging from railway heritage to the English cuppa, and works by great writers from Charlotte Brontë to, in the 400th anniversary year of his death, William Shakespeare.

Theatre-maker Gail Borrow heads the team of highly skilled professional artists, musicians and actors behind the event. She says “The House of St George and the 400 Shakespeares is a unique opportunity for people of all ages to sample great English culture and literature in a creative and unusual way. Wandering through the house at their leisure, the audience experience theatre, art and music up close and in a relaxed and informal setting. It’s quirky and great fun.”

This is the final event and the last chance to see the Explore the Arch team in the current season. The previous events in the St Leonards venue were sell-outs and Gail says the response has been fantastic.

Contributors to The House of St George and the 400 Shakespeares include musician and composer Björn McAteer Dahlberg, mosaic artist Emma Harding, musician and actor Hugo Degenhardt, actor Fiona Hardy, illustrator and performer Georgia Lawrence, actor and singer/songwriter Maria McAteer, print artist Pea Crabtree, puppet maker Poorly Beetle, musicians Simon & the Pope, composer and musician Vladimir Miller and performance poet and actor Kate Tym. All proceeds from ticket sales go directly to the group.

Tickets are £15 (£17 on the door) and the price includes tasty themed food. Entry is free for under 16s and concessionary rates for unemployed are available on request. A licensed bar – paying homage to Al Bowlly, Mozambican-born singer, songwriter, composer and popular London dance band leader of the inter-war years – will offer a selection of drinks throughout.

The House of St George and the 400 Shakespeares is on Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 April at Archer Lodge, Charles Road, St Leonards TN38 0QX and is open between 7.30 and 10pm. Guests can turn up at any point during these hours.

Book tickets for either evening via their website.
Numbers are restricted.

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