Mr D. Oxley, Proprietor of ''The Palace of Curiosities"
Mr Oxley has long been associated with travelling fairs and sideshows and is a prominent patron of the Arts. He is a major collector of Antiquities, and personally owns one of the last fully intact Wunderkammers in Europe.
As a Child he was enthralled by stories of his Great Grandfathers Factory in Sheffield (Thomas Oxley's) making a special Curiosity Booth for The British Army Fighting in The Boer War. This he later found out to be the a specially adapted version of the Sideshow - "The Palace of Curiosities". As a result of this fascination he became a leading authority on the history of the Itinerant Victorian showman Professor Okko, who rose to prominence in the 1880s whilst exhibiting the fairground show “The Palace of Curiosities”.
Following many years of painstaking research Mr Oxley discovered The Palace of Curiosities lying derelict within a farmers barn in North Yorkshire in 2009. Miraculously, the original curios were found to be safely stored in a vintage Morris Minor car which was also rotting away in the same barn. Despite showing signs of wet rot and being covered in the detritus of years of abandoned neglect, he instantly purchased the remains of the Booth and the contents of the car from the farmer for an undisclosed fee.
Having secured the services of a team of accomplished craftsmen and artists, the booth and artefacts were completely restored over a two-year period. It is believed that David Oxley has one of the most comprehensive collections relating to Professor Okko and The Palace of Curiosities anywhere in the world.
Mr Oxley as Professor Okko is proud to be able to bring to life, for the first time in over 70 years - The Wonderful and Extraordinary - "The Palace of Curiosities" .
As a Child he was enthralled by stories of his Great Grandfathers Factory in Sheffield (Thomas Oxley's) making a special Curiosity Booth for The British Army Fighting in The Boer War. This he later found out to be the a specially adapted version of the Sideshow - "The Palace of Curiosities". As a result of this fascination he became a leading authority on the history of the Itinerant Victorian showman Professor Okko, who rose to prominence in the 1880s whilst exhibiting the fairground show “The Palace of Curiosities”.
Following many years of painstaking research Mr Oxley discovered The Palace of Curiosities lying derelict within a farmers barn in North Yorkshire in 2009. Miraculously, the original curios were found to be safely stored in a vintage Morris Minor car which was also rotting away in the same barn. Despite showing signs of wet rot and being covered in the detritus of years of abandoned neglect, he instantly purchased the remains of the Booth and the contents of the car from the farmer for an undisclosed fee.
Having secured the services of a team of accomplished craftsmen and artists, the booth and artefacts were completely restored over a two-year period. It is believed that David Oxley has one of the most comprehensive collections relating to Professor Okko and The Palace of Curiosities anywhere in the world.
Mr Oxley as Professor Okko is proud to be able to bring to life, for the first time in over 70 years - The Wonderful and Extraordinary - "The Palace of Curiosities" .
Wesley Perriman-Batty, Curator
A professional artist and accomplished antique furniture restorer, he is famed with creating The Tranzient Gallery, which has received critical acclaim following a number of high-profile exhibitions.
Wesley was commissioned to restore the Structure and the look of the Palace to its original condition and led the dedicated team of talented craftsmen who have worked on the restoration project over the last two years.The journey of the Palace of Curiosities renovation can be seen on Mr Perriman's own Website.
He has acquired a certain notoriety in artistic circles for seeking his inspiration during "l'heure verte". Although this activity does not appear to be detrimental to his creative productivity.
Wesley was commissioned to restore the Structure and the look of the Palace to its original condition and led the dedicated team of talented craftsmen who have worked on the restoration project over the last two years.The journey of the Palace of Curiosities renovation can be seen on Mr Perriman's own Website.
He has acquired a certain notoriety in artistic circles for seeking his inspiration during "l'heure verte". Although this activity does not appear to be detrimental to his creative productivity.
Ellie Tarratt, Conservator
Lead Conservator of unique taxidermy for the Palace of Curiosities. She was responsible for preventing further deterioration of the Mermaid's dessicated body.
Ellie is also an accomplished fashion designer and is developing a range of exclusive
Haute Couture "Palace of Curiosities"-labelled clothes and associated accessories.
Ellie gained a modicum of fame for her discovery and later studies of the Cottingley Glen Fairy Hoax in the 1990s.
Ellie is also an accomplished fashion designer and is developing a range of exclusive
Haute Couture "Palace of Curiosities"-labelled clothes and associated accessories.
Ellie gained a modicum of fame for her discovery and later studies of the Cottingley Glen Fairy Hoax in the 1990s.
Mark Kohler, Historical Entertainments Interpreter
Mr Mark Kohler studied Russian Theatre at Humboldt University of East Berlin in 1987. During the collapse of Communist East Germany he notoriously crossed the Czechoslovakian Border in his Trabant car, dressed as a circus clown, which was recorded by the news channels reporting the tumultuous events sweeping Europe at that time.
Mark brings to life for today's public the Victorian travelling show worker Arnold Boyels. Although Boyels is mentioned in Professor Okko's accounts of the show little else is currently known.
Mark brings to life for today's public the Victorian travelling show worker Arnold Boyels. Although Boyels is mentioned in Professor Okko's accounts of the show little else is currently known.
Clare Oxley -Matriarch The Power behind the throne - behind every great showman lies an even greater .... or so the saying goes- Clare Oxley is the organiser and matriarch of the troupe keeping a watchful eye on the antics of the boys as she keeps order where chaos rules using her firm voice or a rod of iron depending on mood. .
Robert Jones, Performance Artist
Mr Jones was born in Southern Africa and as a child worked in his Father's business which provided guides to Big Game Tours in Angola, Rhodesia, Namibia and South Africa. Later as the civil wars prevented Robert taking over the family business he moved into providing "authentic" African Sideshows to the tourists in Cape Town, alongside selling diamonds.
Robert relocated to England in the 1990s where he continues to work in the Jewellery business as well as maintaining his passion for Street Performance Theatre with The Palace of Curiosities.
Robert relocated to England in the 1990s where he continues to work in the Jewellery business as well as maintaining his passion for Street Performance Theatre with The Palace of Curiosities.
David Hemsley, Creative Archivist
Mr Hemsley NB was the creative driving force behind the Palace of Curiosity's extensive promotional relaunch campaign in the Autumn of 2011. From his memorable debut in Paris with the dropping from a balloon of ten thousand engraved, vellum-printed fliers saluting the Belle Epoche to the biting satire of the propaganda pigeon debacle, he has never been afraid of catching the eye of the public and authorities alike, and certainly the pending court cases are a testament to this.
His career is perhaps best summed up by paraphrasing the words of the great statesman Disraeli: "Lies, damned lies and ASBOs".
His career is perhaps best summed up by paraphrasing the words of the great statesman Disraeli: "Lies, damned lies and ASBOs".
Helen Batty, Egyptologist. An Enigma to her fellow team members , Helen is more likely to be found in an exotic souk or musty tomb in some far off country than in an English High Street. Distantly related to the famous Archaeologist Stephen Banning she grew up playing in the lesser known halls of the British and Cairo Museums. Now when not on some excavation in The Middle East Helen carefully researches and restores some of the Palace of Curiosities fabled Antiquities
Kirstin Ramskir - Actress
Star of both Stage and Screen, Kirstin delights her audience wherever she performs .
Famous for her song and dance routines and her leading roll in the remake of the 1929 film "Vanity ". When available, Kirstin will donate her spare time in between filming and the West End with her stage presence and dexterous displays of "the craft " as Maud The Bearded lady the one time love and femme fatale of Professor Okko.
Star of both Stage and Screen, Kirstin delights her audience wherever she performs .
Famous for her song and dance routines and her leading roll in the remake of the 1929 film "Vanity ". When available, Kirstin will donate her spare time in between filming and the West End with her stage presence and dexterous displays of "the craft " as Maud The Bearded lady the one time love and femme fatale of Professor Okko.
Adrian Beesley - Backroom Boy
Adrians expertise is in Research and development, particularly of advanced electro quantum mechanics. Following his Phd in Physics he worked for a number of years at MoD Porton Down. However in 2008 he left this post following his press exposure during the Berwyn Mountain Incident and gave up his scientific career to become a French Polisher and study eastern mysticism .
His scientific expertise has now been recruited by The Palace of Curiosities and Adrian is back working in his Laboratory. His current work for us is on the antiquated Austro-Hungarian apparatus that was discovered with the Palace of Curiosities in 2009 and although an interesting item we have little understanding of its purpose. Unfortunately we regret that due to the nature of the research undertaken on this machine by Adrian, countless animals have been harmed.
Adrians expertise is in Research and development, particularly of advanced electro quantum mechanics. Following his Phd in Physics he worked for a number of years at MoD Porton Down. However in 2008 he left this post following his press exposure during the Berwyn Mountain Incident and gave up his scientific career to become a French Polisher and study eastern mysticism .
His scientific expertise has now been recruited by The Palace of Curiosities and Adrian is back working in his Laboratory. His current work for us is on the antiquated Austro-Hungarian apparatus that was discovered with the Palace of Curiosities in 2009 and although an interesting item we have little understanding of its purpose. Unfortunately we regret that due to the nature of the research undertaken on this machine by Adrian, countless animals have been harmed.
The Curiosities - The traveling fan Club of the Palace - Bringing colour when the sideshow comes to town.
Susanne Kohner, Fiona Kay, Lorna Pedley , Carl Pedley , Richard Underwood, Joanne Walls .
Susanne Kohner, Fiona Kay, Lorna Pedley , Carl Pedley , Richard Underwood, Joanne Walls .
