Requiem for the Hatters

Mercury poisoning was common amongst hat makers in the 17th and 18th centuries. Pathological shyness and St Vitus Dance were among the many gruesome symptoms. Upon finding a collection of love letters, diaries, and old trinkets in a box half buried on the beach a picture is pieced together of two people’s journey through shyness into madness.

With films, stories, and songs about hats, milk maids, and winged messengers (amongst other things) award-winning performers Hester Goodman (actress, singer, and long serving member of the Ukulele Orchestra of GB) and Matthew Robins (musician, artist, and filmmaker extraordinaire, who has performed two fabulous Christmas shows at The Lyric) – a pair of shy showoffs – team up to present this new piece of work, coinciding perfectly with Bridport’s unique Hat Festival.