Seven months into her year as Marie Antoinette, Maitland’s Helen Hopcroft is starting to feel the heat.
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“You turn into survival mode,” she said. “When the temperature gets high you have to ask yourself if five petticoats and a bumpad is really worth it.
“I’ve only got one wig and it’s starting to look like a mangy Pekingese.”
And with 40-degree days set to hit Maitland this week, Ms Hopcroft has just one plan to survive the heat.
“I think I’ll stay home and cuddle the air-conditioner,” she said.
Ms Hopcroft began the My Year as a Fairy Tale project on May 1 – a year dressed as last Queen of France before the French Revolution, who the phrase “let them eat cake” has been famously attributed to.
Despite the hot days ahead, Ms Hopcroft is committed to her craft, with the aim of using the costume to promote Maitland as a creative city. It seems to be working.
“There’s certainly been a number of creative projects pop up this year,” she said.
The artist-run Inside Out exhibition currently on display at Rutherford and East Maitland Libraries, cafe poetry program Verses, portable puppet show Frank’s Fantastic Fairy Tale Theatre which will feature in The Levee next year and an upcoming micro-film festival are several examples of Maitland’s thriving cultural scene she mentioned.
“I’m not going to take the credit, but I hope I’ve been a little bit of a catalyst,” she said.
The year has come with challenges though – Ms Hopcroft has had to attend a funeral and visit the GP all in 18th Century attire.
“It means you’re late for everything,” she said. “There are days you just do not want to do the supermarket run.
“School things are interesting – I promised my daughter I’d never wear the wig to school. Luckily I haven’t been pulled over for speeding yet.
“Any sort of responsible adult thing, it naturally sends it straight towards comedy. It’s absolutely ridiculous and that’s the whole concept.”
It is worth it though for Ms Hopcroft, who wants to see a purpose built space for the city’s regional museum as well as a centrally located art space in Maitland before her year as Marie Antoinette is finished.
“If either one of those happens, I think it’s a year well spent,” she said. “The arts are important, you’ve got to fight for them.”
Ms Hopcroft also said the experience had allowed her to build resilience.
“I’m excited to see what happens – the shift in the psyche. How does that change you?
“It toughens you up. I feel like I’m capable of anything.”
Passers-by have also generally been supportive and joined in the fun.
“I’ve been bowed and curtsied to a lot,” she said.
“The reactions range from playful engagement to absolute terror.
“But most people know I’m genuinely trying to do something to help Maitland along. I’m trying to get stuff to happen here.”
Ms Hopcroft hosts a monthly event for local creatives called Creative Coffee. The next one will take place at The Hunter Artisan Gallery & Cafe on Monday.