Get ready for an evening like no other as After Hours returns. An extraordinary occasion when the historic house and grounds of Compton Verney open at night; revealing a plethora of acts from silent discos to conversations with the Curators of Making Mischief.
This year you can expect music and all-inclusive activities alongside access to our Making Mischief and Tudor Mysteries exhibitions. Some of our After Hours program includes:
Mr. Wilson’s Second Liners | A traditional New Orleans Second Line with a Northern Spin, paying homage to the diehard days of the Hacienda, 90s club culture and its greatest hero, Mr Tony Wilson. The result will be an anarchic, street theatre extravaganza, bursting with colour and sound, rallying impromptu raves on street corners and rousing audiences young and old into a joyful frenzy. The second liners will be accompanied by surprise folk performers for their 45-minute rave, set to the backdrop of our historic courtyard which will be hosting a new art installation on its façade for 2023, created in response to Making Mischief by artist Pauline Bailey in collaboration with local communities.
Boss Morris | An all-female Morris Dancing Side, made up of professional performers, dancers, musicians, artists and a horde of magical beasts who create tailored performances for vibrant and exciting events. Bring your bells and whistles, because Boss Morris will be offering a workshop where visitors can learn some Morris dancing moves, suitable for all ages and abilities. Book workshop tickets here.
Be sure to join Boss Morris and Mr. Wilson’s Second Liners for a 30 minute promenade around the grounds at 6pm, starting from the Welcome Centre. They will also be performing in the courtyard at 8.15pm.
Silent Disco | Immerse yourself into our exhibitions and collections with our silent disco. Grab a pair of wireless headphones from the entrance hall and choose from three different channels, exploring the sounds of folk traditions across the country and the music scenes that have emerged in response.
Bourton Trombone Quartet | Upstairs discover the sounds accompanying our new touring exhibition Tudor Mysteries. The quartet from the Bourton Bones Trombone Choir will perform Tudor, Renaissance dance and secular music by British composers such as Matthew Locke, William Byrd, Thomas Morley, and even Henry VIII, as well as the famous Dutch Renaissance composer Tielman Susato. Such music was regularly performed in the renaissance period by trombones, then known in Britain as sackbuts!
Making Mischief Curators In Conversation | Learn more about the fascinating folk customs and unique costumes represented in Making Mischief with the exhibition curators: Simon Costin and Mellany Robinson, of the Museum of British Folklore and Oli McCall, Compton Verney.
These are just some of the activities on offer as you explore the house, permanent collections, touring exhibitions and grounds!
Adults – £14
Student (19-25) – £10
Children (18 and under) – £7
This event accompanies the exhibition Making Mischief: Folk Costume in Britain. It is generously supported by funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
We also have an exciting contemporary arts public program which explores co-creation with communities through textiles and movement, thinking about performative walks, protest, banners and language, all of which disrupt our site through celebration, joy and agency.
Responding to the themes in the exhibition, we have been working with artist Jane Thakoordin who is facilitating a co-designed and createded banner work with ladies from Saathi House group in Birmingham. The outcomes of their workshop with artist Thakoordin will be installed on the façade on our house and unveiled by the group on the 5th May for our Afterhours event.
Please read about the contemporary arts public program here.
