W is for WICKER 23 days into our A-Z for The Horror Show! and we - of course - arrive at WICKER. The Wicker Man has been called the Citizen Kane of horror - and not without good reason. It’s a stone cold classic that has defined the folk-horror genre. Christopher Lee, coming off the back of yet another crass Dracula sequel for Hammer, reputedly waived his fee for playing Lord Summerisle, a role he considered to be his best work. We’re honoured to have his personal copy of the script in The Horror Show! Inspiring many subsequent films including the brilliant @mr_wheatley ‘Kill List’ and @ari.aster incredible ‘Midsommar’ - we’re delighted to have one of the original straw masks from Ben’s film in the exhibition, courtesy of producer extraordinaire Andy Starke. When we were at film festivals with ‘20,000 Days on Earth’ we went through a short period where Iain would be regularly mistaken for Ben. Once even after a screening of Ben’s film ‘High Rise’, which Ben had introduced on stage. The Horror Show! also features @wardsisterward spellbinding ‘Home Rites’. The piece consists of a set of corn dollies, uniquely designed with symbols that connect to the rights of people. These sit beneath Victorian glass domes on a very special table. Cathy lived in a short-life house for over 23 years. The table comes from that kitchen, and had sat in the same place since at least a decade before Cathy moved in. In daily use by members of the homeless community, hopeful for a safe and secure place to live. Cathy made the corn dollies while she lived under the threat of eviction and uncertainty for over two decades. The work references everyone’s right to housing, and all that entails. Corn dollies were traditionally made at this time of year from the last strands harvested. Believed to house the spirit of the corn, the dollies would be ploughed back in to the earth come spring. Or sometimes they’d be burnt, much like the Wicker Man, the ashes spread in the field. The Horror Show! @SomersetHouse opens in 4 days Tickets on sale. Link in bio Alphabet typography by @BarnbrookStudio #TheHorrorShow #TheWickerMan #ChristopherLee #BenWheatley #KillList #CathyWard #corndollies