On 2 May 2024, Sussex Blazing Saddles hosted a visit to Worthing Museum & Art Gallery’s Costume Archive. Seniour Curator, Gerry Connolly showed us a series of amazing utfits from the late 1800s to early 1900s, giving us an overview of womens’ clothing of our period (1890-1928).
From the tortuous constraints of Edwardian fashion & the incredible engineering of undergarments, to convertible horse riding outfits, in a similar vein to the convertible cyclewear featured in the Blazing Saddles show.
Huge thanks to Gerry & Worthing Museum & Art Gallery, & to everyone who came along from across Sussex for a fascinating introduction to costume archives & women’s clothing.
Following two years of research in local archives around Sussex, SBS has created a pop up, touring exhibition which has travelled to partner locations in June & September:
Bexhill Museum, 10-16 June, linking with Bike Week
Worthing Museum, 18-30 June as part of Worthing Festival
Newhaven Library 1-15 September, as part of Heritage Open Days and Newhaven Festival
Jubilee Library Brighton, 16-29 September, coinciding with International Car Free Day
The exhibition is presented as a series of themes which emerged during research – from clothing to rides, races & events; pioneering lady bicyclists, clubs & cycling suffragists; as well as current cycling clubs, promoting learning to ride & maintenance sessions for women.
SBS Digital Exhibition: Click on the images below to find out more about the different elements of the project – further info to be added shortly.
FREE – SBS Taster Workshops in Newhaven & Brighton
We’re delighted to offer a series of fun, sociable taster sessions for you to learn some basic moves with your bike, develop your own moves & short sequences & work with the whole group to create a short choreography.
Confirmed dates so far:
22 June – 10.30am -12.30pm, Preston Park, Brighton
23 June – 10.30am-12.30pm, The Sidings, Newhaven
25 June – 5.45pm-7.45pm Haven Young Creatives, Newhaven
6 July – 10am-12noon with Our City Dances, Brighton
14 August – 6pm-8pm, Preston Park Brighton
30 August – 10.30-12.30pm, Third Space Theatre Summer School, Brighton
What you need to know: All ages are welcome, we just ask that you have a level of cycling proficiency, recommended Bikeability Level 2 – essentially that you can ride safely with one hand off the handlebar. Wear comfortable clothing & bring your bike.
Borrow a bike: some bicycles are available to borrow. If you need one, please contact us on info(at)sussexblazingsaddles.co.uk giving your age & height
Participate in the Show: If you love it, as we’re sure you will, please sign up to participate in Blazing Saddles shows in September. More info HERE
Come & take part in a Sussex Blazing Saddles performance. The show is based on the moment women in the 1890s, transformed their clothing & society to be able to ride bicycles.
to join the Newhaven show on 7 & 8 Sept, sign up HERE
to join the Brighton show on 21 & 22 Sept, joinHERE
We will create the shows with local women & girls (you & your bike) over a weekend, starting with workshop/rehearsals & a ride around the performance sites on the first day; further rehearsal & performance on the second day.
You will learn the show’s choreographic structures & moves, as well as create your own moves & short sequences & work together safely as part of the cast. You will develop your cycling skills & confidence, improve control of your bicycle on the roads & as part of a group, & have the best fun doing so.
Previous Participants said…
All ages welcome. Previous participants have been 8 to 80 years old; in their own words HERE
No experience necessary, apart from a basic level of cycling proficiency. Bikeability Level 2 is recommended – the equivalent of riding safely with one hand off the handlebar.
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You can take part in either the Newhaven or Brighton shows, or both if you have the time/energy. Rehearsals & performance will take a whole weekend.
Here’s a very rough, draft schedule for both weekends:
Saturdays 7 Sept in Newhaven or 21 Sept in Brighton
9.30am-10am – Arrival
10am-1pm – Introductions, workshop to learn core skills & basic choreographic moves & introduction to the show choreography
1-2pm – Lunch break
2-4pm – Rehearse in performance site
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Sundays 8 Sept in Newhaven or 21 Sept in Brighton
9.30am-10am – Arrival
10am-12.30pm – Rehearsal running through choreography
12-1.30pm – Lunch break
1.30-2.10pm – Costume call & prep
Leave 10 mins before show starts
2.30 & 4.30pm – Performances
There’s more information at the Eventbrite links. Sign up to join in above
Loads of FREE activities & events throughout the year. The calendar below lists confirmed events only & we’re working on dates for a programme of FREE workshops to upcycle cycling outfits, dance with your bike & SBS heritage inspired rides. Follow us on Facebook & Instagram for updates
April
13 April, 11am-4pm, A FREE, all day or drop in sewing & remaking workshop at CREW 8-9 South Street, BN11 3AL. Participants made bloomers & sashes from men’s shirts for a dressing up box for the SBS exhibition. More HERE
May
2 May, Worthing Museum Costume Archive Training, an invited group visited the costume archive for a special talk, with examples from the collection, about 1890s-1928 women’s clothing constraints, contraptions & convertible horse riding outfits by Senior Curator Gerry Connolly
22 May, Newhaven, Come along & help us shape the Re-Imagining, Re-Making programme in Newhaven over the next few months. Hillcrest Centre Newhaven 6pm-8pm
June
1 June, Bexhill – Re-Imagine Re-Make session at the Eco Hub, Western Road, Bexhill time tbc
1 & 2 June, Bexhill – Women & Girls Bike Safety Checks by Bexhill Wheelers, Egerton Park back of Bexhill Museum 12-4pm
10 June – Bexhill, Re-Imagine Re-Make session at the Eco Hub, Western Road, Bexhill time tbc
14 June – Bexhill, talk by Senior Curator Julian Porter Bexhill Bicycles & Brasseys Bexhill Museum 2.30pm
15-16 June, Bexhill SBS Exhibition Bexhill Museum
16 June, Bexhill Pleasant Sunday Afternoon – heritage ride, talk & music – bring your bike & meet at Bexhill Museum at 1.30pm
16 June, Bexhill talk by Creative Director Karen Poley Sussex Blazing Saddles, 2pm
18 June – 9 July, Worthing SBS Exhibition Worthing Museum
23 June, Newhaven Blazing SaddlesTaster Workshop, The Sidings 10.30-12.30
25 June, Newhaven Blazing SaddlesTaster Workshop with Young Havens Creatives
July
6 July, Brighton Blazing Saddles Taster Workshop with Our City Dances, Richmond Square 10-12noon, FREE but ticketed
10 July, Brighton SBS Creative Director Karen Poley’s talk for Better Bike Social
13 July, Brighton, re-imagining cycle clips & re-making preloved leggings at Sew Fabulous at the Old Market
31 July, Brighton, SBS Creative Director Karen Poley’s Pecha Kucha for Brighton & Hove Museum, tickets CANCELLED
August
14 August, Brighton Blazing Saddles Taster Workshop with choreographer Virginia Farman, 6pm – 8pm
30 August, Brighton Blazing Saddles Taster Workshop with Third Space Theatre’s Summer School
31 August, Newhaven, Drop-in sewing & upcycling workshop. Come along & re-imagine cycle clips & re-make session pre-loved leggins. Drop in to Hillcrest Centre 12.30-16.30 More info here
September
1-15 Sept, Newhaven SBS Exhibition, Newhaven Library, as part of Newhaven Festival
3 Sept, 7pm for 7.30pm start – SBS Talk with Newhaven Historical Society, Hillcrest Centre, Newhaven
7 & 8 Sept, Newhaven Participants workshops & rehearsal for Blazing Saddles performance 10am-5pm both days, more info
In the late 1890s, women embraced cycling & transformed their clothing to be able to ride safely in shorter skirts or bloomers, & breathe more easily without corsets. This was a revolutionary transformation sparking a significant backlash, that also helped fuel the suffrage movement.
As part of our exploration of the pioneering heritage of women & cycling, we’re thinking about how perceptions of cycling clothing today – lycra, helmet hair etc – discourage women & girls from riding bicycles.
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SBS is running a series of free talks & sewing workshops to Re-Imagine, Re-Frame & Re-Make women’s clothing for cycling or any time.
Come & transform preloved clothes – repairs or making them fit; transforming them completely adding splashes of colour or different fabrics; merging two or more completely different items in chaotic experiment. We’re also creating a dressing up box of bloomers upcycled from men’s shirts, to tour alongside the Sussex Blazing Saddles exhibition.
Next up: a series of workshops in Newhaven & Brighton to re-imagine cycle clips (unchanged since the 1800s) & re-make old leggings. Coming up:
NEWHAVEN – 31 August, Hillcrest Community Centre, Newhaven 12noon-16pm Drop in Session
Have a look at the images below to find out more about the project & re-making sessions so far
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This element of the Sussex Blazing Saddles project started in February 2024 with conversations in Worthing, Bexhill & Newhaven. Local people came to hear about the project, help us develop ideas & frame how we might work together.
The initial sessions took place in:
Worthing – Saturday 24 February 1.30-3pm at the Stitch It Don’t Ditch It session at CREW, Climate Resilience Centre, Worthing, 8-9 South Stree, Worthing, BN11 3AL, &
Bexhill – Monday 26 February 1.30-3pm at Bexhill Museum, 47 Egerton Road, Bexhill, TN39 3HL
Newhaven – 22 May, Hillcrest Community Centre, 6pm-8pm
Following these, we ran:
A FREE, all day or drop in workshop at CREW (Climate Resilience Centre Worthing) 8-9 South St, BN11 3AL on Saturday 13 April, 11am-4pm &
Two drop in sessions in Bexhill, with Community Supporters at the Eco Hub on Western Road, on: 10 May & 1 June – 10.30am-12.30pm & 1pm-3pm
The bloomers & sashes from the Worthing & Bexhill sessions helped create a dressing up box for the Sussex Blazing Saddles exhibition in at Bexhill & Worthing Museums in June
Huge thanks for all the wonderful seamstresses who helped make this possible, everyone who joined in with the sewing & to Project Manager Kate Laird.
There are two versions of TLC Undersea Experience for different types of events:
The HTC Vive version is a high-quality, vr installation, enabling users to move around an area approximately 3.5-4m2 to explore a virtual, chalk reef gully, similar to those in the MCZ. Users can follow their curiosity to explore, pick up rocks to see creatures underneath & see marine life all around. Scroll down for Technical Specs
The 360-film version, is suitable for schools & busy community events or festivals where there are large numbers of people. We currently have 8 headsets, each with the capacity for 8-10 users per hour, so 70-80 users per hour, depending on size of space available.
