The Little Theatre of Disease and Desire is a new project by artist Daniel Baker, created during his residency at The Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret in 2007. The project centres on a paper model theatre, a contemporary version of the toy theatres that were popular during the 18th and early 19th Century in Europe.

Daniel Baker’s theatre has been built to display a series of scenes from a play entitled The Simbysial Case. The story of the play is the story of a disease. The central character is The Patient, a character called The Doctor often accompanies him, and together they try to uncover the nature of the strange illness that The Patient is suffering. The narrative is a journey of discovery: a voyage of mystery and danger that never leaves The Patient’s room. On this journey he meets a cast of unusual characters such as The Two Headed Leech, The Examinator, The Tiny Surgeon, and The Flock of Bloodied Aprons.

The Little Theatre of Disease and Desire will take centre stage in the Old Operating Theatre, and the changing scenes and characters will be displayed as slideshow animations. Smaller theatres that have been used as ‘mock-ups’ to test ideas and narratives will be displayed in the Herb Garret.

Little Theatre Special Events: Surgical Cuts
Special Artist Led Drop-In Events for Young People
Wednesday 20th February & Saturday 23rd February, all day

Join the artist to make your own poorly patients and disease controllers for a paper theatre. Colour in and cut out such strange figures as the Two Headed Leech and the Flock of Bloodied Aprons to act out your own scenes – or invent your very own characters.

Saturday 23rd February will include a Paper Theatre Slideshow with the artist.

Registration required:

No

Free:

Yes