A 7-Screen Video Installation

30 July – 2 November 2023

West Horsley Place

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 the historic wild orchard at West Horsley Place.  

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 of West Horsley Place throughout the summer/autumn of 2023.

Meet the Artists event on 28 September

A unique opportunity to hear about the Orchard Portraits project with choreographer Rosemary Lee and film maker Roswitha Chesher. An insight into this wonderful installation, the collaboration between the artists and performers and nature and a visit to the aged orchard with refreshments provided. Book your free ticket HERE.

Orchard Portraits Podcast

Listen to an insightful and entertaining podcast by Whistlestop Arts featuring interviews with the artists, performers and staff at West Horsley Place. Listen here.

Orchard Portraits Performers:  Nancy Budd, Violet Clare, Andrew Hamel-Cooke, Jim Tucker and Helen Scalway.

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

Original concept and Choreography: Rosemary Lee 

Director of Photography: Roswitha Chesher

Editing: Roswitha Chesher with Rosemary Lee

Sound Design: Douglas Murray

Costumes: Susan Dinmore

This is a free public event, open to everyone.