We are a new collective, formed by freelancers with wide experience of working at many of the UK’s leading heritage sites, to create events and performances across the country.
Our team consists of historical researchers, musicians, writers, directors, videographers, performers and educators.
We exist to connect people with the UK’s past, to inspire audiences to feel a fresh sense of identity with the place in which they live and the historical sites they visit.
Our events are ambitious, accessible and inclusive, pushing the boundaries of historical interpretation whilst remaining mindful of the sensitive sites we work in.
Current…
Siege!
1217 – King John has lost the support of his barons and his land in France. Is he now going to lose the key to England? Will Dover Castle withstand a mighty siege unlike any other in English history?
Find out, as Isabella de Burgh defiantly takes charge!
DOVER CASTLE
Weekends in September
Just Finished!
Summer!
Trailblazers! Women at the Tower of London
Meet five female trailblazers who’ve each made a mark on the Tower’s past and changed our shared stories far beyond its walls.
Their names are hard to find in the history books so join these incredible women for a fun, entertaining adventure as they set out to put this right. Can you help them get their stories in the guidebooks before the Tower closes for the day?
TOWER OF LONDON
Until June 23rd
The Theft of the Five-Bird Roast
Prince John’s in a pickle! Someone has stolen the centrepiece dish from King Richard’s welcome home party and if he can’t find out who did it he’s going to get the blame!
Help the future king whittle down the suspects through a series of contests including Trial By Combat, Trial by Water and Trial by Fire!
DOVER CASTLE
Until 1st September
Phineas Fickletickle’s
Totally Tremendous Timetravel Tincture!
Join Phineas Fickletickle as he accidentally journeys into the past to save people trapped in time! A fun, fact-filled, family-friendly promenade show celebrating four different eras of York’s amazing history!
YORK CASTLE MUSEUM
Saturdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays throughout August
Also… Meet famous fossil-hunter Mary Anning and follow her trail!
YORKSHIRE MUSEUM, YORK
Saturdays throughout August
Echoes of Untold Lives
Meet the people who worked in the shadows of history and ran the palace from behind the scenes. From governesses and gentleman ushers to rat catchers, all have a fascinating story to tell!
KENSINGTON PALACE
Until 31st August
Early Summer
Medieval Mayhem!
Fairytales and frolics are unfurling at the Tower this spring and summer as a group of busy medieval Londoners bustle about their business.
Join them on the South Lawn as they get ready to serve the Queen and put on a mini pageant about the ravens and a magical giant!
TOWER OF LONDON
Until June 23rd
Trust Issue!
Help Henry II uncover who in his family is faithful and who’s a traitor! Uncover dastardly plots and discover who will inherit the English Throne!
DOVER CASTLE
Weekends and Bank Holidays in May
More Tales from the Trail! & Roman Storytelling!
This May Half-term continue to enjoy the silliness, stories and urgent shopping with our Kirkgate characters!
YORK CASTLE MUSEUM
Saturdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays during May Half-term.
Roman stories on the mosaic and object-handling!
YORKSHIRE MUSEUM, YORK
Saturdays during May Half-term. May 25th – June 2nd
Chocolate ‘ere! – Meet Greenwich’s own Grace Tozier
Venture into the Georgian Chocolate House as part of the new exhibition at the ORNC to meet Chocolatier to the Royals and Greenwich local, Grace Tozier.
OLD ROYAL NAVAL COLLEGE
Select dates through Spring and Summer
Easter
Medieval Mayhem!
Fairytales and frolics are unfurling at the Tower this spring and summer as a group of busy medieval Londoners bustle about their business.
Join them on the South Lawn as they get ready to serve the Queen and put on a mini pageant about the ravens and a magical giant!
TOWER OF LONDON
March 28th-June 23rd
On Garderobe!
Come watch the totally true story of ‘King John and the Great Garderobbery‘ and find out where he really lost the crown jewels!
Then play the ‘Great Gong Game‘: score the most points and learn about the etiquette of the medieval toilet!
DOVER CASTLE
March 28th – April 28th
More Tales from the Trail! & Medieval Storytelling!
This Easter continue to enjoy the silliness, stories and urgent shopping with our Kirkgate characters!
YORK CASTLE MUSEUM
Saturdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays March 23rd – April 6th
Medieval stories and object-handling!
YORKSHIRE MUSEUM, YORK
Saturdays March 23rd-April 6th
Chocolate ‘ere! – Meet Greenwich’s own Grace Tozier
Venture into the Georgian Chocolate House as part of the new exhibition at the ORNC to meet Chocolatier to the Royals and Greenwich local, Grace Tozier.
OLD ROYAL NAVAL COLLEGE
Select dates through Spring and Summer
February Half-term
Colonel Blood and the Crown Jewels!
Criminal mastermind Colonel Blood and his audacious gang are up to no good at the Tower of London! Find out what they’re planning in this fun, family-friendly costumed event.
TOWER OF LONDON
February 10th-18th
The Angevin Chronicles!
Come and see this mad-cap comic race through the Angevin Kings of England. Enjoy the strange, the silly and the startling! Suitable for all ages!
DOVER CASTLE
February 10th-18th
Tales from the Trail &
Viking Saga telling!
Prepare for silliness, stories and urgent shopping with our Kirkgate characters!
YORK CASTLE MUSEUM February 10th, 15th-17th
Viking short stories and object-handling!
YORKSHIRE MUSEUM, YORK
February 11th
Elizabeth I’s Spy Mission!
The court is buzzing with whispers and secret meetings. Become part of the story and help Elizabeth’s spymaster unravel the mystery of who might be conspiring to take the throne!
HAMPTON COURT PALACE
February 10th-18th
Recent work…
Christmas at
the Tower!
Flash mobs, music, mayhem, and mice!
Experience a Victorian Christmas at the
Tower of London: 27th-31st December
Victorian Father Christmas!
Discover how Father Christmas has changed over the course of his long life as he visits the snow-lined Victorian streets of the York Castle Museum!
Dates through December
2023
Ghastly Goings On at
Eltham Palace!
Join Lady Harrington Harrington, 1930s Ghost Detective, to discover the secret of who from the palace’s past is haunting it!
An interactive ghost hunt, scary stories, and make your own ghost: this Half-term, 21st to 29th October!
Spring & Summer 2023
Trailblazers!
The Tower of London is being visited by Miss Phillis Wheatley, the first ever published African-American writer.
Help her uncover the forgotten stories of some trailblazing women from the Tower’s history by discovering a blacksmith, a bedchamber attendant, a suffragette and even a pirate!
TOWER OF LONDON
July 22nd – 3 September
The King’s Gambit!
Henry II is in a foul mood and you need to cheer him up.
Join forces with various characters including a Scottish noble, a trader from the Mediterranean, and a mysterious traveller, as they entertain the King with storytelling, life-size chess games and even the invention of a new Scottish game called golf!
DOVER CASTLE
August 1st-4th, 7th-25th and
29th-3rd September
Mary Anning Rocks!
Join fantastic fossil-hunter Mary Anning at the Yorkshire Museum as she brings the ‘Mary Anning Rocks’ exhibition to life!
Take part in her ‘Fossil Fun’ quest and create your own Ichthyosaur drawing to hang on the wall of the museum!
YORKSHIRE MUSEUM, YORK
August Fridays and Saturdays
Hampton Court Joust!
Join Henry VIII, Catalina of Motril, Anne Boleyn and Henry Percy, next Earl of Northumberland, as they compete to upstage each other – all whilst watching a real joust!
HAMPTON COURT PALACE
August 2nd-6th
Restoration at the Tower
Join us at the Tower of London as we take a step back in time to 1661. Preparations are being made for Charles II’s coronation procession. Will all go to plan and be ready in time for the big day?
Meet some of the Merry Monarch’s close friends, take part in a treasure hunt to help find the missing Crown Jewels, and watch as Samuel Pepys recounts the story of the King’s daring escape whilst in exile.
May 13th – July 21st
Siege at the Castle!
Meet the guardians of the Great Tower of Dover Castle as they regale visitors with tales of heroic daring do. Learn how to defend a castle against implacable foes as you inspect the battlements for yourself.
Weekends in June and July
Roman Around York!
Heroes and heroines, muses and amusement – join us for story-telling and hands-on history amoungst the treasures of the Yorkshire Museum in the heart of York!
(Part of the Eboracum Roman Festival.)
July 8th & 9th
2022
1797: THE MARINER’S REVENGE
From 13th October
at the world famous
Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich.
Medieval Mayhem
at the Tower of London
A mini festival of fun is unfurling at the Tower of London this summer as our muddling medieval Londoners bustle about trying to sell their wares, serve the queen and put on their pageant about the ravens and a magical giant!
Performances run three times a day at 11.00, 13.00 and 14.30.
August 1st – 31st
A Game of Sport and Courtly Love
at Dover Castle
A riotously fun experience where medieval characters try and earn Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine’s affection. It’s team red vs team green, so pick a side for the sack races, dance offs and so much more.
August 1st – 26th
Elizabethan Jousting Tournament
at The Royal Armouries, Leeds
The cheers of crowds and the clash of lances on armour, as knights battle it out in an authentic Elizabethan-themed tournament. Knights and horses, pomp and pageantry all fit for Queen Elizabeth I herself, who will be in attendance
with her courtiers. Spectacular entertainment for all the family.
August 27-29th
‘Castle of Queens’ at Leeds Castle
Join us as six famous queens are brought to life in a fast-paced, story-led show of romantics, rebels, and custard-tarts! Then join us on our Medieval Jubilee Quest!
June 2nd – 5th
Queen Eleanor at Dover Castle
Meet Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine as she runs the country in her Regency! She may look stern, but she also knows how to have fun! Learn about being in her court and discover the things she likes to do!
May 28th – June 5th
Queen Mary I at Framlingham Castle
Get ready for a right royal knees-up with Mary I, the first Queen of England, in the castle where she was proclaimed queen and discover whether she really deserves her reputation?
May 31st – June 5th
Easter at the Tower of London
Join our Tudor’s for fun and silliness at the Tower of London this Easter. There’s even a rumour some of the animals from the Tower’s menagerie are on the loose…!
April 2nd to 18th
2021
Education at Historic Royal Palaces
Since September 2021 we’ve been delivering on-site education sessions at the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace and Kensington Palace
Story-Quest at Dover Castle
Train as a knight then go on a story-quest to battle a mythical beast and save the castle!
August 2nd-13th, 16th-27th & 31st – September 5th
August at the Tower of London
It’s 1563 at the Tower of London, Plague has turned the lives of ordinary Londoners upside down, leaving them counting the cost to their families and livelihoods.
July 31st to August 31st
The Case of the Secret Story Stealer!
Have you ever wondered where all the untold stories from history disappear to? What if they are stolen away?! Welcome to ‘The Case of the Secret Story Stealer!’, a family-led trail-adventure at the Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery.
On-going
Dover at War
Something’s afoot at Dover Castle! Join us for our co-production with Time Will Tell Theatre, meet some of those involved in the war effort and see if you can uncover the secret plan! ( in partnership with Time Will Tell )
Bank Holiday Weekend 29th – 31st May
Stonehenge: The Truth!
English Heritage have decided ‘Kids rule’ at Stonehenge this May half term, so join us for our improvised show where fact meets fantastical fiction as you decide the truth of how and why Stonehenge was built!
29th May to 6th of June
Knight School: The Show
Join us for a fun-filled interactive performance, full of daring deeds, chivalrous conduct and superb swordplay in the legendary moat of the Tower of London. Find out what it takes to become a true knight from the comfort of your own socially-distanced area on the lawn.
29th May to 6th of June
Easter at the Castle
As part of English Heritage’s Members’ Week we’ve been asked to bring back the delights of ‘Winter at the Castle’. This time we travel to Kenilworth Castle and to Eltham Palace!
First Sundays continue!
So why not come to the ORNC for some ‘Mischief and Mayhem’!
Tudor Palace Palaver!
Meet Henry VIII’s mother, Elizabeth of York, as she visits her favourite palace at Greenwich to see how the new building work is going. There’s drama in the air with an upcoming Royal Wedding, construction and Henry’s 10th birthday party. Audiences can immerse themselves in Tudor life, get involved in the story and try to impress the queen as they follow this online show.
OTHER 2020-1 HIGHLIGHTS
2020-2021
First Sundays
at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich.
On the first sunday of every month a chance to spot some of the characters who have populated Greenwich’s past!
Online…
Christmas at the Castle
An Interactive Zoom Event.
It’s Christmas 1497 and Lady Margaret Beaufort is spending Christmas at the Castle, join her and many other fun characters in this fact-filled interactive Medieval experience.
After hours…
Ghost Stories in the Painted Hall
A Halloween Late at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich.
Come and be spooked at an after-hours performance of storytelling and music in the Painted Hall on the 30th and 31st October