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…"
See Christopher’s blog for his Residency diary.
Events
The Singing Hypnotist
Thursday 29 November 2012, 19.30-21.00
Conference Centre
Part performance and part presentation, the evening will feature a song cycle of original material written throughout the year in the persona of The Singing Hypnotist who both heals and mesmerises.
Live hypnosis will be performed at this event on willing volunteers from the audience. Christopher Green is an accredited stage hypnotist and clinical hypnotherapist.
This event is free but advance booking is essential. Book online or visit the Box Office.
The residency so far
In his first showing of work-in-progress on 30 May, Christopher told of his search through the Library’s collections for evidence of singing hypnotists. He has uncovered many curiosities – from the electric devices used by Victorian mesmerists to the merchandise they flogged after their shows – but no mesmerists of a musical persuasion. So he decided to invent one…
Below are video clips of two songs performed on the 30 May - an original song by Green’s Singing Hypnotist, 'This Song Will Hypnotise You', and a song about mesmerism found in the sheet music collection, 'It Must Have Been Svengali in Disguise' (performed in true music hall sing-along fashion):
- This Song Will Hypnotise You, written and performed by Christopher Green, recorded at the British Library, 30 May 2012
- It Must Have Been Svengali in Disguise, performed by Christopher Green at the British Library, 30 May 2012. Words by Vincent Bryan, music by Harry von Tilzer; date of composition unknown.
The second show-and-tell of the residency on 11 September explored past-life regression and presented designs for hypnotic machines found in the Library’s patent collection. Thanks to the investigations of Curator Margaret Makepeace there were further revelations about the mesmerist Annie de Montford, who was denounced as a charlatan in the American press when it was found that the same young men were volunteering to be the subjects of her experiments as she toured the country.
The Singing Hypnotist performed several new songs, including an updated version of ‘Annie de Montford’ which, together with a sketch on the subject of past-life regression, can be watched by clicking on the links below:
- The Hypnotist’s Hymn, written and performed by Christopher Green, recorded at the British Library, 11 September 2012
- Annie de Montford, written and performed by Christopher Green, recorded at the British Library, 11 September 2012
- They Refuse to Heal (dedicated to Henry Blythe), written and performed by Christopher Green, recorded at the British Library, 11 September 2012
- Past-Life Regression Sketch, written and performed by Christopher Green, recorded at the British Library, 11 September 2012.
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.
