The Curious Case of the Cottingley Fairies

Theatre Wakefield Takes the Outdoor Stage with
The Curious Case of the Cottingley Fairies

Theatre Wakefield invites audiences of all ages to step into a world of
wonder and deception. Under the open sky at the Fairbairn House Heritage Centre,
Theatre Wakefield presents The Curious Case of the Cottingley Fairies, which asks the
question the world has debated for over a century. Did two young girls in Yorkshire
actually photograph fairies, or did they pull off one of the greatest hoaxes of the modern
age?
Between 1917 and 1920, as the world reeled from the First World War, cousins Elsie
Wright and Frances Griffiths claimed to have photographed fairies dancing in a brook
behind their home in Cottingley, England. The images spread around the globe,
championed by none other than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes,
and were embraced by spiritual leaders hungry for evidence of something beyond the
war. For a hope-starved world, the fairies felt real.
Theatre Wakefield’s production explores the full complexity of this extraordinary story.
Was this the first viral “deepfake”, predating the internet by more than 70 years? Or is
the more interesting question not whether the photos are real, but why so many people
chose to believe them? The play weaves together themes of childhood, imagination, grief
and the nature of truth, holding up a mirror to our own era of misinformation.
The magic begins one hour before each performance, welcoming children and families
to craft their own fairies and create fairy photographs. Submissions will be showcased
on Theatre Wakefield’s website. Following matinee performances, a Q&A session gives
audiences the chance to dig deeper into the production's mystery.

PERFORMANCE DETAILS
Dates: Saturday, July 4, 2 p.m., Saturday, July 11, 7 p.m., Sunday, July 12, 2 p.m.
Saturday, July 18, 7 p.m. Sunday, July 19, 2 p.m. Saturday, July 25, 7 p.m. Sunday, July
26, 2 p.m. RAIN DATE
Tickets: http://theatrewakefield.ca/events/
Rain Policy: If it rains on the day of your ticket, you can join us on any other date
What to Bring: Lawn chairs or blankets are recommended.
Accessibility:
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essible