The Floating Boatman’s Chapel

Crankie scroll commissioned by Kilsby Theatre Boat for performance at the Oxford Canal Festival. 

Materials: vintage gold parchment, black copy paper, black card, patterned rice paper, patterned paper, tissue paper, ink, water colour, clack marker,.

Illustrated scroll and puppets by karis Harrington / poem written and recited by Sophie Stanley / Song written by Steph Pirrie and performed by Three Idle Women

This scroll was based on a true story which we deep dived into to collaborate on this Crankie performance. A real Floating Chapel existed for boat people back in the 19th century. It floated up at Hythe Bridge offering schooling and church services for thirty years befor sadly sinking to the bottom of the canal. Sophie of Kilsby Theatre Boat, cleverly intertwined another story about a real girl and her gran who frequented the boatman’s chapel after gruelling days pulling the horses along the towpath. With a sprinkling of magic and some beautiful music, this story was born.

Performance

Some snaps from our performance at the Oxford Canal Festival. We created the illusion of a boat-like theatre using a long rectangular blackout tent in which small groups of up to twelve could sit and view the show.

The Making of The Floating Boatman’s Chapel documentary

I made a short documentary outlining the making process of this scroll, which features research and an interview with local historian Mark Davies. It was screened as part of the local history of the canal film reel at the Oxford Canal Festival.

Storyboarding

Crankie stills

Fundraising

We presented the Floating Boatman’s Chapel Crankie as a film at Oxford’s Story Museum as part of a fundraising event for Kilsby Theatre Boat. We are hoping that this sort of storytelling entertainment will capture the imagination of those helping to restore Kilsby Boat, and that one day it could be performed aboard the boat theatre itself.