Robert Hersey, Multi-Talented Musician, Artist, Director, and more.

I interviewed Robert in June, 2019. Obviously a great deal has changed since then.
What follows is the original article, which was published in the Northumberland Gazette. You can find out what happened since, at the end of this article!

Robert has strong childhood memories of being in his dad's big old wooden barn of an art studio, filled with the evocative scent of linseed oil and 'messing about with charcoal'. 'I remember sitting down at our upright piano and just playing and playing'. He remembers 'being on my own and exploring in the woods and fields of Sussex and Northumberland, being in wet, messy, beautiful natural environments'. This all conjures up a life filled with light, colour and sound from his earliest days.

His father, artist John Hersey, began manufacturing his own pastels, when he found himself dissatisfied with the limited colour and texture of the ones he could buy. He formed, with his wife, Kate (The Honourable Katherine Viola Hersey), Unison Colour in 1987. The company remains a family concern and is based in Tarset, Northumberland.

Robert is captivated by so many art forms it is difficult to chose which one to highlight. He writes poetry, paints and draws. Robert studied music at Newcastle. He sings, plays the violin and viola. He also attended the London School of the Science of Acting, learning Directing and Acting. Robert has toured and performed nationally with various ensembles. He has directed many theatre productions and operas. He taught theatre and music for 19 years, before settling permanently in Northumberland, with his wife, Vicky, and young family, in Harbottle.

Earlier this year Robert was the stage director for the Brundibar Festival in Newcastle. He is enthusiastic about his ambitious plans to form a local opera company, here in the North East. He is building connections, with this idea in mind, with composers, conductors and musicians. The project is in the early stages, with exciting plans for when Newcastle Cathedral is completely renovated. (The cathedral is creating a stunning performance space).

More locally, Robert enjoys helping with the Alwinton Festival. He is also kept busy running his holiday business Wild Northumbrian. The yurts and huts are based on land next to the family pastel making business. www.wildnorthumbrian.co.uk

Robert Hersey is a multi-talented, Coquetdale Creative, who has achieved a great deal, yet still feels he has 'not yet begun to explore things'. 'I feel I am waiting for the chance to express outrageously. I don't want to be pinned down to one art form - I love to do everything.

Robert and his family, at Wild Northumbrian.

What has Robert been up to since this interview?

Robert told me:
In 2024, I directed : “ Between two worlds” written by Jessica Duchen for the Brundibar Festival. It was based on the life of the Erich Korngold and involved internationally well known musicians and actors based in the North east. Again. A wonderful collaboration and an innovative script using their music of Korngold with both musicians and actors on stage. It was performed at the Caedmon Hall Theatre in Gateshead.

Robert has continued with the Brundibar Arts Festival. In January this year they put on a performance at the Gosforth Civic Theatre; 'What a Life! Which was part of the Holocaust Memorial Day.

In May 1940, Nazi Germany launched a surprise attack on Belgium and the Netherlands. Faced with the threat of an invasion and in fear of sabotage, the British Government embarked on a policy of mass internment of German and Austrian nationals in the United Kingdom. Most of the prisoners were Jewish and other refugees who had escaped persecution by the Nazi regime and were ready to fight alongside the British. They were, nonetheless, interned for many months while the authorities dealt with each case individually. Most were held on the Isle of Man. The composer Hans Ga´l (1890-1987) became a leading member of the arts committee at Central Camp in the capital, Douglas.
Brundibar Arts Festival 18-26 January 2025 'In Exile'

As for the glamping, though, there has been some major changes. Wild Northumbrian is still in business, but much reduced.
The biggest news of all, however, is that he has now moved from Coquetdale, and is now an Orcadian Creative, rather than a Coquetdale Creative! He and Vicky have a new site now called Wild Orcadian.

The Chronicle ran a story on the move.

Robert says:
For ten years we have run an off grid ecologically minded yurt and shepherd's hut accommodation site called Wild Northumbrian - this is still very much alive and well and run by good friends of ours.

Sitting now on beach under the big Orkney sky, making the most of the clear spell of weather wondering how we went from 'lets look for a place to live roughly somewhere north', to finding ourselves 'up and moved' to South Ronaldsay, Orkney. Its funny the perceptions you have of the place you think fits to call home, and that feeling of knowing - then you find somewhere just a big bit special, this is why we moved to Wheems Organic Farm.

It has a touch of magic about it, soul is the closest word I can match. We are hoping to go with that feeling and add what we have and know from Wild Northumbrian, the place we have just left. A huge big learning curve for us in all ways.

Orkney

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