GATTON
COMMUNITY
THEATRE
Artistic Director, Robert Chevara
Production artwork
Pilgrims' Tales
Adventures on the road to Canterbury
July 2006
Because of its close proximity to the Pilgrims Way, it was decided that Gatton Park would be an ideal venue for a vibrant, open air, promenade adaptation of The Canterbury Tales, bringing to life new pilgrims' tales alongside Chaucer's original version of pilgrims competing in a story telling competition. Audiences were invited to join the journey, both physically and imaginatively, and one which was in turn funny, salty and ultimately inspiring as they journeyed with the storytelling cast alongside the ancient Pilgrims Way. Guides on this magical journey were young lovers, cuckolded husbands and even some sinners disguised as saints - all of whose stories were told in response to Chaucer's great work.
Adaptations of some of the stories from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales were intertwined with modern pilgrims' stories from our own lives featuring themes such as loneliness, isolation, learning to love again, forgiveness and joy. One also featured the wicked and power mad Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, who was given Gatton by William the Conqueror, his half brother, in 1086. Using different performing styles, song and movement to tell the tales, the production also incorporated evocative music to inspire the senses on a summer's night.