On Friday 13th September 2024, local performance artist and opera singer Ellie Westbrook will bring a unique musical experience to Hastings Castle, celebrating its rich history while reviving it as a cultural venue for live arts and performance with a fresh infusion of creativity by talented local creatives.

As the sun sets, Ellie will take to the stage within the castle’s iconic ruins to perform King Harald’s Saga by Judith Weir. This piece will be interwoven with a diverse blend of rehearsed and improvisational responses from folk artist Bev Lee Harling (Issue #2 Get Hastings), Iranian musician Davood Jafari, cellist Tara Franks (with her duo Balladeste), and electronic artist Tullis Rennie. To enhance the atmosphere, the castle will be illuminated with extraordinary lighting designed by Hastings-based Peter Hudson, and original artwork by Benjamin Phillips will be featured on T-Shirts, printed locally and available for purchase now.

Left: Tullis Rennie Right: Benjamin Andrews artwork on a T-Shirt

King Harald’s Saga draws from an ancient Icelandic tale set in 1066, exploring the profound impact of war and its repercussions for future generations. The story serves as a precursor to the more widely known tale of King Harold, who met his fate at the Battle of Hastings. This one-off performance delves into how history is remembered, how oral traditions evolve over time, and how the same story can hold different meanings for different people. When Ellie discovered that King Harald’s Saga was set in 1066, she was struck by its resonance and knew that Hastings Castle, one of England’s oldest cultural landmarks built in 1067, was the perfect setting for this powerful narrative.

“This performance promises to be an enchanting evening like no other”, says Ellie “offering something unusual and unexpected, yet fundamentally beautiful—a full sensory experience”.

Ellie’s eclectic style, influenced by her professional work in both clowning and opera, reflects her passion for interdisciplinary performance and her fascination with the spaces between genres, where new and surprising things can emerge.

“I love incorporating humour into my work, exploring the depths of human existence. It’s been quite some time since the castle hosted a performance, and I believe it’s a captivating and magical place with immense potential as a venue not only for history but for art as well. We’re a collective of local artists eager to infuse creativity into this space and inspire more performances at this historic site in the future.”

In conversation with Ellie about this project, her passion for the arts scene in Hastings is undeniable. She played a key role in establishing SHE Choir Hastings, which is collaboratively run out of the Joyful Roots community space, and she also leads Crowniños, weekly song and story sessions for children at The Crown pub. Ellie is deeply committed to creating performance opportunities in the area and recently became an associate artist at Hastings Theatre Project, which has produced the play DFL and is organising a new theatre scratch night, ‘Scratch that Itch,’ at The Stables this October.

In addition to all of this, Ellie has founded TUFT, a new company dedicated to nurturing and producing live performances in Hastings. Concert at the Castle will be TUFT’s inaugural venture and Ellie’s most ambitious project to date. “Hastings is such a creative place, full of people with a ‘can do’ attitude, and I’m inspired to take artistic risks. I think this could be the beginning of something really special. Above all, I hope people have fun and experience something a bit different.”

Event Information:

Friday 13th September, doors open at 6.45pm.
Performance starts at 7.15pm.
Hastings Castle, Castle Hill Rd, TN34 3HY

Tickets range from £10-£20 and are available from billetto.co.uk (search for Concert at the Castle).

Limited tickets are available so booking in advance is essential.

Running time is approximately 1 hour 20 minutes. There will be a bar on-site, feel free to bring your own blankets and chairs.

The event is subject to postponement dependent on weather conditions. If this happens and you cannot attend the postponed date then tickets will be refunded. This is a self-funded project which has been helped by The Chalk Cliff Trust and the generosity of organisers and supporters in our town. Ellie is fundraising alongside this to subsidise the lower-priced tickets. You can find out more and donate via their CrowdFunder.

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