“This charm of human goldfinches were the extraordinary, glittering, singing presences who guided me and hundreds of others through wood, field and forest, bringing all twenty of the spells from The Lost Words to life...
I’ll not forget the incredible, swaggering “Raven”, and the writhingly supple dances of “Otter”.
Even in blazing heat, the goldfinches charmed on.”
An outdoor theatre performance for all ages led by a flock of birds, Told In Gold features a massive goldfinch nest auditorium and is soundtracked by Spell Songs, the stunning musical interpretations of Robert Macfarlane's words.
Spells wrapped around trees, words to be discovered in the woodland, and lines of spells perched on branches like starlings.
With sound recordings of the spell poems from some of Britain’s famous voices of all ages and accents, Seek, Find, Speak came alive in 2018 and 2019, grew into The Lost Words: Told In Gold in 2019 and, following an enforced hibernation in 2020-21, awakened from its slumber for a new updated production throughout 2022.
Look out for new incarnations of this glorious production in the near future…
Seek Find Speak has been co-commissioned by Wild Rumpus for TIMBER Festival (with the National Forest) and Just So Festival.
"At the heart and origin of The Lost Words is a wish to bring nearby nature – the creatures, trees and plants with which we share our landscapes, but that too often slip from our care or attention – back into the lives and stories of Britain’s children."
"It was a simple response to this request, to sign the letter, that seeded our book in my imagination. How could these words be removed? What did that teach children about the importance of wild places. When you work in the world of words, language, such things have power."
