Site Specific

Description

A Promenade performance which takes the audience on a trip through the history of Dover Castle. Led by the character host Maurice the Engineer, the audience meet various characters from the castles history. Maurice was the original architect of the site, and, like him, some of the personalities encountered are actual historical figures - Hubert De Burgh is discovered half way through the siege of 1216, and Henrietta Maria has just arrived in order to meet her new husband, King Charles. Other characters are created for the purposes of the show - meet Graham the Garderobe man, (but don’t shake his hand unless you want a handful of something extremely nasty!) Bringing history to life in a fun and humorous way Footsteps in Time proved extremely popular with visitors to the castle.

Not entirely site specific, as this show stands alone as a self contained, it worked particular well when performed in the spooky interior of Deal Castle at Halloween. This is a children's show, essentially a Halloween pantomime during which Matilda the Witch struggles to pass her GCSE exam (General Crone Sertifictae of Excellence) but accidentally unleashes an evil wizard instead. She enlists the help of the ghosts who are out celebrating Halloween. Lots of colourful characters, music, audience interaction and fun.

A much more adult Halloween event, set in Dover Castle. Audience members must collect cues from different areas of the site to solve a puzzle which will lead them to the events denouement- the final sow down between Dracula and Dr Van Helsing. During their travels around the site, audience encounter zombies, werewolves, crones, faceless monks, vampires to name a few. This is a scary event, and a great way to celebrate Halloween.

A children's show based on the tales of childhood. Set in the beautiful gardens of Walmer Castle, the audience meet Auntie Bloomer, who invites them to join her of a quest to find the Frog Princess’ Crown. She leads them on a promenade performance around the gardens, where they find a variety of characters, some nice ( a hippy tree sprite, Woebegone the Jester, Bill the Dwarf ) some not so nice (Elementa the Enchantress and the Giant Grumbleguts) who help or hinder them in their quest. This is a truly magical performance incorporating comedy, special effects and a really memorable experience for children. Many families returns time after time to this show.

Costume Characters is a concept which takes one or two performers and places them within a particular site. The Characters are always from a different period in history, and have carefully researched the site in which they appear. Each character is dressed to fit their particular historic background, and can tell you about the place they inhabit, and interact with the public to tell visitors the history of the site as a entertaining and comic guided tour, or answer questions while remaining in character. Costume characters helps to bring a site to life, and introduce visitors to the history of their environment in an interactive and friendly way.

Is an assistant to James Needham, and is preparing the Keep of Dover Castle in readiness for the visit of King Henry the VIII. He can tell you all about Tudor court life, how the king lived and traveled and exactly what needs to be done in order to please the king. Everything must be perfect - the windows have to be put in, the tapestries hung, as well as all the clothes and furniture unpacked otherwise - well, let’s just say Dithering won’t be needing to buy any hats in the near future!

Townsend is based upon a real man who served at the Battle of Waterloo with the Duke of Wellington. When he retires, he took up a gentler life style and became the Iron Dukes Gardener. He can tell you all about the Duke and his life, and also recreates the Battle of Waterloo using an assortment of fruit and veg.

Polly is the Duke of Wellingtons House Maid, and although she has to work very hard, she likes nothing better than to stop and gossip with anyone who might be passing. She can give you the below stairs title tattle on many of the guests who have stayed at Walmer Castle over the years, for instance, do you know where Prince Albert kept his knick knacks? Or why Lord Salisbury and his corner chair were inseparable? Polly has all the gossip.

Reg is a brilliant engineer who is responsible for designing the Napoleonic tunnels at Dover. He knows exactly where all the trapdoor, secret mechanisms and sneaky traps are located, and he is happy to tell you all about them.

Agnes is a middle class lady of the Georgian period who frequents Deal Castle. She is an authority on the constables of the place, past and present, and if you catch her in the right mood, will share their secrets with you.

The Tumps occupy the lower echelons of Mediaeval society, in fact, you can’t get much lower down the social scale, as they work at Dover Castle cleaning out the Garderobe Pit. Mrs Tump can enlighten you on some of the more stomach churning elements of Mediaeval life, and don’t get Mr Tump started on his war stories, or he’ll be reliving the Battle of Agincourt for the umpteenth time!