Special Assignments Company at Hat Fair Carnival 2024 starting at 1pm

Blue Apple’s Special Assignments Company are making a nine-foot showstopper ‘Jane Austen Living Statue’ puppet that will lead the Parade in Carnival to open Hat Fair!

Although seasoned outdoor performers this is the first time SAC will take to the street of Winchester with our very own large scale puppet! Blue Apple's Special Assignments Company bring a large scale living statue to the streets to honour their love of storytelling and the city's rich history. The puppet and costumes you see have been made by our performers, with the support of New Carnival Company who are helping Blue Apple bring this vision to life.

SAC are born out of Winchester and have been performing at Hat Fair for many years. It is their favourite event in the outdoors arts calendar! Led by Playmakers and The New Carnival Company, local schools and groups will hit the streets alongside performing artists from this year’s festival. Watch as Winchester city centre fills with colour, music and dance. Join us as we parade down the High Street towards the grounds of Winchester Cathedral.

Blue Apple’s Special Assignments Company will later perform a promenade performance from 2.30 to 3pm.

Blue Apple’s Special Assignments Company at Hat Fair 2023

The Special Assignments Company (SAC) produces devised work for outdoor and site-specific settings. It is suited to performers who have a flair for the improvised, the surreal, and enjoy responding in the moment in changeable public settings. This group of live art performers focus on storytelling through physical expression and striking visuals rather than relying too much on speech. SAC performances can be a wonderful blend of absurd and thoughtful, of pure silliness and thought-provoking moments. Distinctly out-of-the-ordinary and visually striking, SAC are a regular feature of the Winchester Hat Fair and other high profile public events.