The Handsome Butcher

Retelling forgotten tales

Exhibition

For the inaugural exhibition at St James’s Market Pavilion, DNCO created a multi-sensory exhibition to fill the space’s immersive cabinet of curiosities by Studio Weave.

Crafted from over 300 wooden figures, The Handsome Butcher was inspired by Victorian paper theatre and narrated by Stephen Fry.

Sector
Place
Culture
Client
  • The Crown Estate
Location
London
Expertise

Retelling a forgotten story

Our research uncovered ‘The Handsome Butcher’, a forgotten popular ballad set in St James’s Market that would have been recited on this very site more than two centuries ago. The exhibition retold the story of the butcher and gave new life to the thriving market that once stood here in the 18th century.

Sights and sounds of the Handsome Butcher

Inspired by Victorian paper theatre, we brought illustration by James Graham, animatronics from the studio responsible for Harry Potter and sound together to create an multi-sensory exhibition. Over 300 laser-cut wooden figures filled more than 100 cabinets.

A piece of the exhibition to take home

For five months, the public could enjoy this open exhibition. We also re-created the ballad sheet so people could read this ribald 18th-century tale of love and upward mobility at home.

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