A new fascinating exhibition from the Cosgrove Hall Films Archive
Saturday 23 September - Saturday 6 January | Waterside’s Lauriston Gallery - Free Entry
This hotly anticipated new exhibition from the Cosgrove Hall Films Archive will explore animated worlds, sharing recent acquisitions to the archive, including original design drawings and concept artwork from The Reluctant Dragon, Count Duckula and The BFG. The show will also feature props and set pieces from stop motion favourites such as Postman Pat and Wind in the Willows.
Audiences will escape to Postman Pat’s Village Green and have a unique opportunity to view original hand drawn artwork by founder Mark Hall, loaned from Bridget Appleby, one of Cosgrove Hall Films Art Directors. Within animation, a location could feature for a split second and yet designers, writers and art directors work tirelessly before production begins, laying out, developing back stories and building out whole worlds to accompany and rationalise design decisions. This is a practical tool to stage and frame their shots, but it also creates more convincing stories for audiences to get lost in. Animated worlds are an escape, and these story worlds are the stage for the performances to play out.
The exhibition has been created with specialist insider interviews from two of children’s televisions most talented Art Directors Bridget Appleby and Barbara Biddulph, who both worked at Cosgrove Hall Films as Production Designers and Art Directors.
In our Gallery 74 space we will be displaying work from Cosgrove Hall Films Art Director Bridget Appleby including recent loans from Pied Piper of Hamelin, plus character designs by Bridget’s own hand, set within the worlds of Oakie Doke, Andy Pandy and BAFTA award-winning The Reluctant Dragon.
Curator and archivist, Rosy Whittemore says: “This exhibition will lift the lid on some of the detailed processes behind building worlds in animation, this is a rare opportunity for people to see drawings and artwork that have never be seen before from timeless classics such as The BFG and award-winning The Reluctant Dragon. People will be able to see different stages of the process giving a scarcely explored insight into the finer details of production design and art direction."
The exhibition runs from Saturday 24 September to Saturday 6 January in the Lauriston Gallery at Waterside and is free entry. Open Monday – Saturday 10:00 – 17:00.
Waterside Arts, 1 Waterside Plaza, Sale, Trafford, Manchester M33 7ZF, UK
Further Information: Cosgrove Hall Films Archive