Theatre-maker and entertainer Christopher Green is the British Library’s first Artist in Residence.
Funded by the Leverhulme Trust
From January to October 2012, Christopher will be investigating the history of hypnosis in the Library’s collections. An accredited hypnotherapist himself, he will be exploring the connections between stage hypnosis and hypnotherapy or, in other words, the point at which showbiz meets self-help and sleight-of-hand meets the scholarly.
Hypnotism has fascinated and inspired the British since the mid 1800s, when entertainers and medical professionals enthusiastically took up this Far Eastern practice. Christopher’s Leverhulme-funded investigation will see him delving into the Library’s rare books, newspapers and archives – not to mention the papers of the great Victorian conjuror, Evanion - to discover the stories of the early hypnotists. From Professors of Mesmerism to Princes of Necromancy, Chris will be exploring the different guises of hypnotism as portrayed by pseudo-scientists and showmen alike.
Christopher Green writes...
“You are feeling sleepy. Well, it’s a library isn’t it? Doesn’t everyone fancy a snooze around 4pm when you’re supposed to be researching the influence of muslin underclothes on the prose works of Virginia Woolf? Well this phrase might come to mean something different during the time I’m in Residence. I was delighted to be asked to be the Inaugural Artist in Residence and I think it’s great that it’s going to be a Live Artist. The British Library has such a rich history across all disciplines but it’s often forgotten how strong it’s links with the stage and performance of all types. I will be searching through these collections plundering and plucking shiny meretricious objects that grab my attention. I am going to be examining Hypnotists through the ages, both in Showbiz and Self-help and seeing where the research takes me. I will be asking for volunteers from time to time. The British Library is a vibrant, exciting place to be these days. It’s always packed with interesting people doing interesting things, banging away excitedly at their laptops. I’m going to be slowing them down, putting them under and freeing them from everyday constraints. Am I snake oil salesman or saviour? Count down slowly from ten, and find out….”
Events
Christopher will present some of his finds from across the Library’s collections in two free lunchtime show-and-tell sessions on 30 May and 11 September.
The grand finale in the British Library Conference Centre on 19 October will see Christopher reveal a brand new character, born from the archives.
More information on these events will be available shortly. Meanwhile, see Christopher’s blog for his Residency diary.
About Christopher Green
Christopher Green is an award-winning theatre maker and entertainer. His solo work includes comic creations such as US Country Music Singer Tina C., and pensioner rap star Ida Barr both of whom have had their own BBC Radio 4 comedy series, and Cultural Critic Jedd O’Sullivan and Motivational Speaker Hugo Furst. Chris’ experiential work include the interactive phenomenon Office Party, and the fake backstage show VIP which is scheduled to be rolled out in 2012 for the launches of Time Out Paris and Time Out Berlin. He writes regularly for BBC Radio 4. He is trained in both hypnosis and hypnotherapy.
