The Wild Horn Fair Goes Digital

Hastings’ wayward, intoxicatingly colourful Rock Fair took place annually for at least four centuries. It was originally held on the White Rock and later moved to ‘Rock Fair Green’, the area now known as the America Ground or Hastings Trinity Triangle. Rock Fair was finally – thanks to the temperance movement – banned in the late 19th century.

Now, featuring groundbreaking creative technology that incorporates live, 3D painting, projected images, music, and virtual production, we are about to discover where and how the fair will pitch up next. We need more players to join our ragged troupe; will you join us?

First, some history. We like history. In 2020, writer and collector of stories, Rosanna Lowe, researcher and writer, Julie Gidlow, and producer, Margaret Sheehy, invited others to help them develop a potential new musical The Wild Horn Fair (previously called Rock On, Rock Fair), exploring the history, myth and mystery of fairs and festivities in Hastings and beyond. However, in the spirit of the twisting, ever-moving nature of the travelling fair, the form of the piece has morphed and changed.

In 2021, Rosanna performed a version of The Wild Horn Fair at the Hastings Shipwreck Museum. The show took the form of a dynamic piece of live storytelling with a backdrop of images created by Jane Bruce. Then, in May 2022 MSL collaborated with Barefoot Opera on a commission and performance of a pop-up, flash-mob-style song by composer, Lucy Mulgan, to mark the Queen’s Jubilee, Sun Shall Rise.

Next, MSL collaborated with Hi3 Network, led by London South Bank and Canterbury Christ Church universities, to realise The Wild Horn Fair as a virtual production.

We wanted more. On June 30 2023, MSL held a dynamic day of discussion at our offices in Hastings, bringing together storytellers, musicians, digital experts and artists. A live demonstration by virtual reality artist, Sean Rodrigo, and production designer, Jane Bruce, showed how 3D painting might be a central plank of the next stage of the project, and there was a sparky, inspirational discussion about where and how the fair might set up camp in the future.

 Images courtesy of Jane Bruce and Kate Hodges

Created by:

Margaret Sheehy Producer

Jane Bruce Artist

Lucy Mulgan Composer and Musician

Shaun Rodrigo Virtual Reality Artist

Will Green Technologist

Sam Sharples Cinematographer

Alison Lyon Evaluator

Kevin Grist Sound Artist

Tony McBride Access Consultant

Rosanna Lowe Writer