Special Assignments Company lead Hat Fair Carnival 2024 with giant Jane Austen puppet

Our Special Assignments Company paraded Jane Austen down Winchester High Street in Hat Fair Carnival, with Blue Apple performer Ben wearing the frame to provide the legs. Head and arm movements were controlled by two of her Regency pals in attendance and she was followed by several more of the troupe, also in Regency costume. The large-scale puppet statue in honour of Hampshire author Jane Austen drew large crowds, despite the rain. Both costumes and puppet were made by Blue Apple performers with support from New Carnival Company and Play to The Crowd.

SAC are born out of Winchester and have been performing at Hat Fair for many years. It is their favourite event in the outdoors arts calendar!

Promenade

The carnival parade was followed by a walkabout performance ‘A Literary Promenade’ at the Brooks Centre where onlookers were able to see the nine-foot puppet up close.

Below: video by Mike Hall

A large grey puppet of a stone statue woman in regency costume being hand-steered in carnival parade — Image by Mike Hall

A large grey puppet of a stone statue woman in regency costume stands flanked by six people dressed in regency style costumes with black trousers, white shirts, black hats with gold trim and carrying large blue quill pens. — Image by Sylvy Meredith-Hardy