Metal

The Ballad of Juniper Davy and Sonny Lumière was a specially commissioned performance of poetry and live music written by Rebecca Joy Sharp presented in collaboration with visual artist Elizabeth Willow (Liverpool Art Prize People's choice award 2009) which took place from 11 - 15th May 2010 at Edge Hill Station.

Based in and around the historic railway station at Edge Hill, The Ballad of Juniper Davy and Sonny Lumière told a magical tale of invention and industry, hide and seek, love, mischief and dark imaginings. The performance comprised poetry, live performance, an original score with visual installations and an accompanying exhibition.

Rebecca Sharp had been in residence at Metal’s new space at Edge Hill Station since the renovated buildings opened in the Autumn of 2009. Originally from Glasgow, Rebecca Sharp has played the lever (Celtic) harp for over fifteen years. She studied Theatre at Glasgow University, spent time in New York and Belfast before coming to reside in Liverpool in 2004. Spending her early career as a playwright she started combining her musical and writing activities to produce the harp and spoken-word pieces that now form the core of her practice as a performer. Among many things, she is inspired by folklore, memory, cities, sadness and magic. She continues to perform at venues and festivals throughout the UK, and in April 2009 released her first EP of original lever harp compositions and spoken-word, The Mystery Workshop

Elizabeth Willow is a fine artist whose work includes sculpture, installation, intervention, writing and performance. Underpinning her practice is an abiding love of words, of poetry and stories; she draws upon dreams, myths and fairytales, symbolism and metaphor. She especially enjoys making work in a particular place, to spend time there, exploring and responding to its fabric and history, its potential for stories.

A book of the text and CD of the score were for sale during the performance.