Theatre Collection Welfare State International
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Welfare State International (WSI) was a company of artists who performed celebratory spectacle events across Britain and abroad. Founded in 1968 by John Fox the group was based at The Ellers in Ulverston, Cumbria, where it also fulfilled an extensive educational and training role.
WSI specialised in site specific performances and ritual celebrations, including namings, weddings and funerals, and many of its events featured firework displays, lantern processions, puppetry and music.
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Its objective was to bring creative performances and installations to local communities. WSI projects included:
- A three-year residency in Barrow in Furness
- The 'Raising of the Titanic' in London
- Ulverston Carnival and Charter Week Celebrations including an annual lantern procession
- Making a crocodile for part of a Thomas de Quincey exhibition at the Wordsworth Trust
- Participation in Expo 86 in Vancouver
- Bay Tales
- Longline
Such projects always encouraged the involvement of the local people.
Since the disbanding of Welfare State International in Apirl 2006, two of its co-founders, John Fox and Sue Gill have gone on to form Dead Good Guides, to carry on the work, undertaking rights of passage ceremonies as well as producing books and installations. More information can be found on their website.
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Further Reading
Engineers of the Imagination: the Welfare State handbook edited by Tony Coult & Baz Kershaw (1990)
Eyes on Stalks by John Fox (2002)
Dead Good Book of Namings and Baby Welcoming Ceremonies edited by Jonathan How with Sue Gill and John Fox (1999)
Dead Good Funerals Book by Sue Gill and John Fox (1996)
Dead Good Book Time Capsules Book by G.P. Gill (1999)
Welfare State International: an Introduction (c.1983)
Tulane Drama Review March 1977
Performance Magazine April/May 1983
Plays and Players 1976
New Theatre Quarterly Vol 4 No 15 1988
Other Useful Sites
Welfare State International
Dead Good Guides
Venacular Kitchen
The National Community Archive and Database
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For further information about the Theatre Collection please tel. 0117 331 5086 (daytime) or email theatre-collection@bristol.ac.uk.
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