Barleycorn

The Cut, Halesworth

Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 11 November 2006

Barley Corn

Ingredients – one regional story teller, a leading folk artist, new local choir, landscape and barley that was once transformed to malt in this amazing old building.

But it is the way the ingredients were mixed that made it a special evening. The power of the spoken word, the magic of music and song – now that’s a heady brew!

Hugh Lupton spun great yarns – his smoothly rich voice enchanting. Often with his tongue in cheek, he conjured a forgotten age it’s easy to feel at home in.

Chris Wood worked into the mind with his voice and guitar evoking a rural life that is gone yet lives in us.

Sian Croose conducted Halesworth Community Choir – no instruments, but voices in harmonies and rounds that were delightful.

John Barleycorn was the personification of the myth of the ancient Corn King ceremonies. St George, old Father Christmas and other traditional characters were brought to life.

It explains the dual timing that underpins folk culture. There is tragic time, our span of life. And there is resurrective time – the characters we play never die, they come back again.