Event Type: Local / Community

Takes Place: 11th October 2025

Time: 1.30 - 3pm

Venue: Exeter Phoenix

Description: Musician Chris Hoban and historian Laura Sangha invite you to a unique free performance of history and original music inspired by Tudor, Stuart and Georgian wills, part of FUTURES: A Festival of Discovery 2025. Wills are remarkable documents that often reveal hidden histories – for many people their will is the only record they have left behind. But while they are deeply evocative, wills can also be frustratingly mysterious, a mere glimpse into a person’s life. Chris and Laura have therefore come together to ‘fill in the gaps’ of these documents adopting a creative approach that captures the relationships, light, love and even humour within them. Come along to their performance to hear the fruits of their collaboration. MORE ABOUT CHRIS AND LAURA Chris Hoban is a Devon based composer, arranger, lyricist and performer. A singer who plays piano, piano accordion, ‘cello, mandocello and guitar, he has performed and worked alongside many artists in the UK and abroad. He is also a highly regarded choral composer and arranger for amateur, community and professional choirs. Laura Sangha is Associate Professor of History at the University of Exeter. She is part of the Leverhulme Trust research project ‘The Material Culture of Wills, England 1540-1790’ which uses AI and crowdsourcing to transcribe and analyse 25,000 wills. Chris and Laura’s collaboration has been made possible by a University of Exeter Arts and Culture Creative Fellowship, a short-term grant that brings creative practitioners into research settings to encourage new conversations across disciplines.

How to book: Claim your free ticket on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1738865536629

Price: Free

Email: l.s.sangha@exeter.ac.uk

Website: https://futuresnight.co.uk/events/stories-and-songs-wills-as-windows-onto-past-lives/

Region: South-West England