Update

Well, long time no see. Have been very busy securing the funding and making the costumes for this, as well as running several jobs....

The highlights of this month (August) have been:

1) presenting the project at Secret Bettakultcha as part of a larger talk on Classics in Leeds (on the buildings in the city centre that is, not about the Classics Department in Leeds - though that's well worth shouting about too!) It was a great night and the mention of Light Night raised a cheer!. Watch the video.

2) completing the casting (except for Iolaus with the Nemean Lion Labour from 7.00pm onwards - if you're interested, get in touch!)

3) finally sorting out the funding for both components of the Light Night event, which now have dedicated pages here.

In the Footsteps of Hercules
Character Locations: Leeds City Museum, Mandela Gardens, Town Hall, Bond Court, City Square.
Time: 6pm-10pm
Description: Become a hero by stepping into Hercules' size 14½ shoes - complete his 12 Labours and discover why he belongs in Leeds. Meet monsters and costumed characters from ancient mythology, including Hercules' mother in Leeds City Museum and Hercules' nephew, the Amazon Queen, Nemean Lion and Horses of Diomedes elsewhere.

Tales of Hercules
 Location: In the Classics Departmental Library, first floor, Parkinson Building.
Time: 6pm-9.30pm
Description: Hercules’ twin brother tells his famous brother’s 12 Labours and about growing up with a hero, while Hercules’ official biographer (Dr. Emma Stafford) is on hand to answer questions. An accompanying poster exhibition shows tales of Hercules, in several different media, from the ancient and modern worlds.

4) Completing the risk assessments....

5) Finishing the embroidery on Alcmene's bra - based on research into the ancient bra by Dr. Emma Stafford. I'll be wearing it (under an embroidered peplos) in the Leeds City Museum, which means I'm delighted to have finished Alcmene's knickers too! I had to research these and make a paatern based on the illustrations on ancient Greek vases of athletic females like this one (although mine are more like shorts than a tight mini-skirt and are modelled specifically on those worn by Atalanta), so my modesty is secured - a HUGE relief!

Welcome

Hercules on Leeds Town Hall, Oxford Place side.

So far, I've done some thinking and put in some funding bids to realise this as part of Leeds Light Night 2011. I've got a fantastic world expert on Hercules (Herakles to Grecophiles) on board - Emma Stafford - and found two amazing undergraduate researchers willing to help out too. I'm very open to offers from volunteers to help on any aspect - costume-making, putting up posters, folding maps, checking characters are OK on the night etc.

Please don't hesitate to get in touch with me (e.r.okell) on my university address (@leeds.ac.uk).

The 250 word "idea" for the funding bid reads:

Bringing ancient Greek and Roman myth to life in the Leeds landscape, In the Footsteps of Hercules combines cutting-edge classical research with performance art and story-telling in a “factasy” walking tour of Leeds city centre: its public art, architecture, and history.

The walk will take in well-known – and less-well-known – locations in a circular route, including encounters with mythical characters. Participants (hereafter “walkers”) will experience Leeds’ heritage differently by undertaking the journey of Hercules and completing the 12 Labours that enabled him to prove his worth and become a god – an opportunity to be a hero and fill his size 14½ shoes!

Walks may start by obtaining directions/route maps from Hercules’ mother, Alcmene, and his wife, Hebe, in the Ancient Worlds Galleries of Leeds City Museum, but may also be “stumbled upon” by encountering information points and characters with directions to other locations. Each location will have an explanation of the place/architecture and its connection with one of the 12 Labours, together with excerpts from relevant ancient texts. Five locations will also feature masked costumed characters.

Audience interactions with characters will involve on-demand improvised story-telling customised to the individual/group. Improvisations and information points will use research by local historians and a local academic expert on Hercules. For example, Hercules completes his first Labour at the Town Hall, saving the people of Nemea by wrestling a lion - just as today he waits to prevent the Town Hall lions from rampaging through the city if the Town Hall clock strikes thirteen.

Next week (13/05/11) - Auditions for characters, see the Characters page.