A seven-screen video installation

created and directed by Roswitha Chesher and Rosemary Lee 

Choreographer Rosemary Lee brings her unique sensibilities to both landscape and people to create a new video-work made collaboratively with filmmaker Roswitha Chesher - inspired by and shot in our ancient and wild orchard.  

Filmed over a year through the four seasons, ORCHARD PORTRAITS features five senior performers, each in a meditative and elegant duet with their chosen ageing tree.  As human and tree become entwined almost as one, there is a sense of deep unity seeming to pay tribute to humanity’s ancient and ongoing intimate relationship with trees. In contrast we are reminded of natures’ cycles of regeneration as 60 school children burst through the orchard in moments of joy and discovery.  

Bringing the beauty of outside in, this seven-screen video installation will inhabit the Stone Hall throughout summer/autumn of 2023.

How to See It

31 July- 2 November.

See Orchard Portraits when you visit the Manor House for a tour, Open Day or other event. Or- see it on Thursday afternoons from 2pm-5pm for FREE.  

Please note that the exhibition will be closed on Thursday 5th October. 

Special Event

Join us to meet the artists on 28 September. Book this FREE event here. 

Performers

Nancy Budd, Violet Clare, Andrew Hamel-Cooke, Jim Tucker and Helen Scalway.

Year 5/6(2022) from The Raleigh School, West Horsley, Surrey.

Credits

Original concept and Choreography: Rosemary Lee 

Director of Photography: Roswitha Chesher

Editing: Roswitha Chesher with Rosemary Lee

Sound Design: Douglas Murray

Costumes: Susan Dinmore

 

For the installation: 

Production Manager: Steve Wald

Synchronised Playback System: Rob Prouse

Installation Construction: Richard Rudnicki

Produced by Ali Clarke Surrey Hills Arts with Nicky Childs Artsadmin

Supported by Arts Council England, Arts Partnership Surrey and the Surrey Hills National Landscape.

 

Special thanks to Matt Link, Clare Clinton and the team at West Horsley Place, Katie Green, Julie Gilbert, Jan Alderman, Douglas Murray.