{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1805542"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1805542/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2026PM1517/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2026PM1517/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2026PM1517","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1805542","accessionNumber":"S.48-2025","objectType":"Flyer","titles":[{"title":"The Ballad of Ellen Strange","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"<i>The Ballad of Ellen Strange</i> was the first Horse & Bamboo production, performed on the moors near Helmshore in the Pennines on 24 June 1978. The performance was based on the story of a local woman, Ellen Strange, who was murdered by her lover on the moors. The event had inspired a 19th century ballad written by John Fawcett Skelton. A local tradition had grown where couples would carry a stone to a memorial cairn in tribute to Strange and to seal their engagement. The performance unveiled a new Cairn memorial stone to Strange.\r\n\r\nBob Frith designed and cut the woodcut illustrations for Horse & Bamboo posters, creating a signature style. Frith studied at Manchester and Chelsea Art Schools (1967-1971) and exhibited his prints before founding the theatre company in 1978.","physicalDescription":"Woodcut print featuring image of a man and woman.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Frith, Bob","id":"AUTH404384"},"association":{"text":"designed and made","id":"x28674"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Horse & Bamboo","id":"AUTH410492"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"},{"text":"ink","id":"AAT15012"},{"text":"","id":""}],"techniques":[{"text":"printing","id":"AAT53319"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Printed ink on paper","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment and leisure","id":"THES48959"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2026PM1517"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES402710"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"brochure","id":"AAT248280"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1978","earliest":"1978-01-01","latest":"1978-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"S.49-2025","id":"O1805543"},"association":""}],"creditLine":"Given by Bob Frith founder of Horse & Bamboo Theatre","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"280","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"200","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Flyer advertising <i>The Ballad of Ellen Strange</i>, 1978.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.48-2025"],"accessionNumberNum":"48","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2025,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-04","recordCreationDate":"2025-06-16","availableToBook":false}}