UP CLOSE with the 'SeaGals' Ebony & Ivy

If you've been in Exmouth over the past couple of weeks you may have spotted two human-sized seagulls walking around.

They're a comedy duo called Ebony & Ivy, and they conceived of the 'SeaGals' project to encourage people not to litter or feed seagulls, but also to put a smile on people's faces after a difficult year due to the pandemic.

Exmouth Nub News managed to get an exclusive interview with the pair - who were in character, of course!

Ivy said: "We're great pals and we like to play and bring a bit of laughter and fun to people don't we Ebony?

"We put this piece together for entertainment, to bring people into town, but there's also quite a serious thing isn't there.

"It's about respect, isn't it, respecting people, wildlife, the environment.

"We used to fish from t'sea, but people throw stuff for us don't they, so we go 'oh well, it's free, it's there, we'll have it.'

"I'm a common gull - what are you, Ebs?"

Ebony said: "I'm a laughing gull from the Caribbean.

"I come from Jamaica, so the first thing is, when I come [sic] over here, and see what the seagulls them eating - back home, our food is yam, and banana, and jerk chicken, and rice and peas, and gravy - and I come over here, and me see me friend, me magnificent friend, eating greasy chips!

"I watched one of your friends, and them fly down and pick up - they didn't know it was a cigarette!

"And he was feeding his lickle, lickle birds, because him think it was chips. It's not good, the way we leave our rubbish and litter about.

"These are not costumes of course, this is our body.

"So, when we wanted to find a new outfit, we couldn't find a proper dressmaker. All we find was all sorts of fancy dress costumes.

"So me shout out - what's that ting called, 'Facebook'? And somebody came across the airwaves, and this lickle woman Iola Weir, she's a costume props designer, she said she would design it, but we would have to help her.

"We sewed, and glued, and cut, and sewing machined, and ruffled, and pasted, and painted, and stitched, and papier machéd.

"A lot of tings, a lot of the materials was recycled, for example one of these feathers is a blind from a bathroom."

Ivy added: "We're doing this as part of Exmouth Festival 'Lift Off', who've supported us, the Exmouth Town Council and the Exmouth Festival, but we've been really fortunate to get the support of the Arts Council England who are sponsoring us, and Helifilms who are sponsoring us.

"We're very very thankful to all these organisations that have brought this wonderful SeaGal project to life, thank you."

You can find them on Facebook, Instagram, or email [email protected] if you'd like to get in touch.

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