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If you’ve not yet read or heard about Carnival Messiah, Geraldine Connor’s epic masterpiece, which Harewood House staged in 2007 and the Earl of Harewood co-produced, then now is the time. Ashley Karrell’s film and documentary, which features 17 years of content from the show, just won People’s Choice Award for Best Documentary at the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival

A radical reimagining of Handel’s Messiah, the original production fused music, dance, and carnival into a spectacular live performance event. It brought together over 150 local Leeds community performers, together with celebrated international artists, all on one stage with a backdrop of Harewood. The production marked the climax of a year of events at Harewood in 2007 to commemorate the bicentenary of the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

At the time, artistic director and creator Geraldine said; “It should be acknowledged that Harewood is the only stately home in the UK to be completely transparent about its involvement in the slave trade…we stand firm together in commemorating and celebrating our shared heritage.”

David Lascelles, Earl of Harewood, was the show’s executive producer: “We wanted to acknowledge Harewood’s history but at the same time to celebrate the present. I don’t know of any more exuberant, more spectacular, more inclusive expression of contemporary Caribbean culture than Carnival Messiah.”

Carnival Messiah The Film & Documentary, created and directed by Leeds based film-maker, Ashley Karrell features a large cast, loud music, impressive carnival costumes – and also features interviews and behind-the-scenes footage from the original production and the cast and creatives involved. The film premiered at Leeds Playhouse in September 2017 and has subsequently been screened at Leeds International Film Festival.

Geraldine passed away in 2011 and the Geraldine Connor Foundation, supported by the Lascelles family, was established. It is a way of ensuring that Geraldine’s ‘unique spirit and phenomenal impact’ are remembered and her legacy of bringing people together through arts and culture is continued. Harewood House is very proud of its association with this great production and its continuing commitment to education and working with local communities.

Watch the trailer from the film here.

To read more about the foundation of Harewood House, read here.

Gordon is a recovering soldier, stationed at the convalescent hospital set up within the House.

A young man from the Scottish Highlands, he, like many of the soldiers at Harewood, had never left his village until leaving to fight. War opened his eyes to awful terrors, but it also broadened his horizons and introduced him to new things.

Gordon’s injuries are worryingly serious when he first arrives, but thanks to the care he receives, and the healing atmosphere at Harewood, he makes a miraculous physical recovery. Whilst recovering, Gordon spends much of his time taking walks in the gardens, where he meets Olivia, a servant girl from the House.

Visit Seeds of Hope in the Bothy, Walled Garden and Servant’s Hall, Below Stairs, and learn more about the characters at Harewood 100 years ago. Exhibition closes Sunday 4 November.

Mr Leonard Leathley is the Head Gardener at Harewood.

A brilliant man with a deep understanding of agriculture and nature, he is much respected by those who work under him.

As war progresses, he becomes an even greater taskmaster, with the focus on feeding the troops and the Home Front becoming more and more of a priority.

Like John, he has family fighting in the war – his two sons Tobias and Ernest. The thought of losing them has led Mr Leathley to become obsessed with his new war-time responsibilities – to turn the once ornamental and decorative gardens of Harewood into a hive of food production and cultivation.

Seeds of Hope continues in the Walled Garden until Sunday 4 November.

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You may mourn the passing of the glorious summer weather, but autumn is definitely my favourite time of year. There is a special clarity of light across Harewood, as the leaves turn colour and people return, to enjoy long, lingering walks around the lake. This year we wanted to focus on that much used term ‘health and wellbeing’ and what that really means to us and how Harewood can play a part.

I suspect many of us are feeling the pace of life picking up again. My boys are back to school, my work diary is a complicated patchwork of meetings, events and talks. In the past 7 days alone, I’ve been to the opening of the Turner Prize, seen the extraordinary Oceania exhibition at the Royal Academy (yes with Meghan Markle on her first solo engagement!) and am in the midst of the annual art frenzy that is the Frieze Art Fair. Next Monday I’ve been invited to see Rachel Whiteread’s specially commissioned piece in the beautiful Dalby Forest. What strikes me in all of this, is our constant need to create – to fashion works out of materials, to celebrate what others have created and take a moment to wonder at beautiful and sometimes challenging pieces.

That need to create, to renew ourselves and to stop the daily grind of life just for a moment is really powerful. Ironically in a time when we are more connected than ever, we often feel quite disconnected and feel the need to take time out.

I would love everyone to take a moment here at Harewood to appreciate that new crispness in the air, to relish wearing our favourite jumpers again and tuck into some heartier fare. Hot chocolates, cheese toastie and waffles have all crept on to our menus and I for one, will need to resist the need to eat, as though I am going into hibernation! I am rather useless at baking, but that doesn’t stop me appreciating the wonderful produce from our walled garden, turning into bakes, crumbles, stews and steaming soups to tempt us all…..taking time to make things, rather than just talking about it.

The next Autumn Glory Festival: Craft & Colour, takes place on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 October.

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The greatest challenge to Mr Leathley’s order comes from a developing social revolution – women working the land. This threat is epitomised by Rose, a lively mother from the village who comes to work in the gardens, responding to a direct appeal from Lady Harewood. Rose faces many challenges from Mr Leathley, who seriously underestimates her strength and willpower.

Rose is determined to prove him wrong, working hard to sow more seeds, grow more plants and harvest more crops than her male counterparts.

Eventually, Mr Leathley is forced to swallow his pride and accept that women are just as good at gardening as men.

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