thenortherncharter

21 April 2018

A performance and exhibition revolving around Beth Richard's investigation into Michael Jackson’s visit to Exeter City Football Club in 2002, where he gave a long and bizarre speech to the football fans and a 1999 ‘Michael Jackson’ gig in Barnstaple, Devon that was later revealed to be a hoax.

Poor Copy is a body of work investigating the strange historical narratives and archival fragments of Michael Jackson’s visits to Devon, UK, at the turn of the 21st century. These stories act as a nexus to explore ideas of personal and public archives of a regional history that has transcended into urban legend. Using archival photos and video, press reports, interviews and fan art, the work investigates the blurry line between history and myth, global and local performance, hoaxes and disbelief.

Richard's exhibition and live performance unpack ideas about: lookalikes as reenactment; notions of ‘tribute’; suspension of disbelief; the veracity of photography’s documentary qualities; pop cultural icons, celebrity and fame.

Poor Copy was a one night exhibition and live performance at The Northern Charter.

Supported by Arts Council England, Plymouth University, Plymouth Arts Centre, The Northern Charter, and Exeter Phoenix