PERFORMERS: 2
RUNNING TIME: 55 MINUTES (NO INTERVAL)
PREMIERED: January 2026
Ockham’s Razor direct Ffern - Cloud Orchard
We were approached by the fragrance brand Ffern to work with them to create an advert for their new seasonal perfume. They release a limited-edition fragrance each quarter based on the seasons of the year. This one was for their autumn release and in searching for inspiration online they had come across videos of our show Tess. They had been drawn to the warmth and playfulness of the movement and costumes, the bonds between the characters on stage.
They asked us to take the movement language they had seen in Tess and create a range of short sequences based around them of an apple scrumping heist. We suggested that we swap the wooden planks from Tess out for a few wooden ladders of different lengths and set about dreaming up what might be possible. We grabbed as many of the Tess cast as were available and brought in a few more brilliant circus folks and got to work.
We spend 4 days in a studio exploring all our ideas and those the cast brought to the mix. We ended up with more than enough to make another full length show! At the end of the time Sam Finney who would be directing the shoot came in to see the moves we had come up with and selected the ones that he thought would best fit with his vision for the advert.
We then began the process of looking at orchard sites and crafting the chosen movement sequences into short scenes. After going back and forth about a few different fields at the Burrow Hill Cider farm in Somerset, Sam had his heart set on a site next to their iconic hill with its lone tree which would be the opening image.
The next stage of painstakingly examining each tree for shape, apple quality and backdrop was a herculean but necessary feat with Sam needing the right elements to make the shot, the ground needing to be just right for the quad bike that would be driving the camera around and us needing a sequence of trees that would fit with the movement sequences we had created as well ground that would let us work with the ladders safely and effectively. After working late in the evenings, we did eventually settle on a few locations that we felt were close enough to perfect.
At long last the week of the shoot arrived, the performers were costumed out in some magnificent attire, and we began the process of filming. Each scene took many, many takes all of which were shot on film which added to the complications but made the end result absolutely beautiful.
Every single one of the huge team were a joy to work with. We very quickly found an excellent dynamic between us, Sam, Executive Producer Angus Dunsire, Director Eleanor Heatherwick and with Assistant Director Simon Ashen who ran the whole thing so kindly and calmly.
We are so proud of this beautiful piece of work and of our part in its creation.
Show images
Credits
Ockham's Razor Performers
Lila Naruse, Nat Whittingham, Joshua Frazer, Shane Hampden, Jennifer Wilson and Lauren Jamieson.
Farmer: Julian Temperley.
Artistic Directors
Alex Harvey and Charlotte Mooney - Ockham’s Razor
Produced by:
Alison King and Carina Simões – Turtle Key Arts
Choreography by:
Nathan Johnston
Production Assistants:
Ellie Park and Anna Quinney
Ffern Creative Team
Creative Director:
Emily Cameron
Executive Producer:
Angus Dunsire
Director and DoP:
Sam Finney
Director:
Elena Heatherwick
Music by:
Katy J Pearson
Producers:
Lucie Horton, Madi Bain and Thyme Mór
Production Co-ordinator:
Franci Donovan-Brady
Costumes:
Kirsty Halliday, Jack Shanks, Lex Dainty, Faerieday Head
Hair & Make-up:
Hebe Wallace
Camera & Technical Crew:
Felix Wildley, Justin Theodore, Dee Iskrzynska, Matt Buxton Smith, Nick Baker, Thom Heald, Jessica Ellis, David McAnulty, George Ashley-Johnson, Freddie Logan, Steve Hideg, James Holbrook, Max Bickers
Production Design:
Molly Hackney, Alice Loveday Colfox, George Robinson-Hill, Willem Robinson-Hill
Post Production:
Boris Hallvig, Rascal Studios, Tim Smith, OPM London, Got Moves, Will Berridge
With thanks to: Matilda Temperley and Burrow Hill Farm, Somerset.