Fairfax House introduces one of its smallest but most important inhabitants … Gregory
Gregory, The Townhouse Mouse, is Fairfax House’s new children’s ambassador. Together he and his friends lead children through Fairfax House to discover secrets of the townhouse.
PHOTOCALL: Saturday 28th March 12 noon Fairfax House launches Gregory, The Townhouse Mouse, and his trail with a day of special family activities
The Townhouse Mouse offers a new and unique introduction for younger members visiting the house, encouraging them to open their eyes and imagination to life in a Georgian townhouse. The size and scale of the mice, as well as their period stylising and costuming, is integral to their affinity with younger audiences and role as children’s ambassadors.
Gregory invites his fellow mouselings to follow his trail and tale (tail). Following mouse holes from room to room, families need to search for Gregory, and of course complete the puzzles in the trail guide to claim their reward at the end.
Gregory is joined by three other mice, Charles his country cousin from Gilling Castle who is visiting Fairfax House on an adventure, as well as Molly the Maid, and a very genteel white mouse – Anne – Gregory’s daughter.
These endearing and life-like characters have been brought to life by Nick Ellwood, illustrator, whose fascination for human behavioural quirks and characteristics is translated to the page with carefully observed line drawings created through both traditional and digital media.
The concept is being launched on 28th March with a grand launch day. There is free entry to the trail for children as well as a host of special activities throughout the day including Meet the Illustrator Nick Ellwood, who will be leading some sessions on drawing and illustration. There will also be storytelling by trail author Jenna Drury (of Mud Pie Arts) plus face painting, colouring activities and even the opportunity to meet Gregory himself.
The concept by Hannah Phillip, Director is based on the classic tale of the town mouse and country mouse.
“These mice build on and extend the idea of two grand houses working in parallel with each other and being inhabited by the family for different parts of the year: the townhouse during the winter season for a round of seasonal entertainment and socialising, as well as the races in summer, and the country estate and castle for the summer.
Lord Fairfax and his daughter Anne have given key characteristics to the mice as well as, of course, their names (Gregory the townhouse mouse and Charles the country house mouse are named after Charles Gregory Fairfax, 9th Viscount).”
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Press Contacts:
Hannah Phillip, Director
Tel: 01904 655543
Email: hannahphillip@yorkcivictrust.co.uk
Karina Williams
PA to the Director
Tel: 01904 655543