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November 2019
Convivial Caves
Gather in one of Margate's most atmospheric locations to recreate a musical gathering from yesteryear. Singers from the cathedral choir will perform the lively songs which delighted audiences in the town throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. In England’s towns and cities throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, wherever there was drinking, there was singing - and it could be surprisingly civilised as everyone could join in with ‘catches’ and ‘glees’. Four Lay Clerks of Canterbury Cathedral (gentlemen singers in…
Find out more »The Secret Lives of Costume
Come along to 'The Secret Lives of Costume' and discover the profound ways in which clothing shapes the experience of our bodies and the world. This sensory walk backstage at the National Theatre invites audiences to pay attention to the senses we can use to engage with theatre costume, to the smell of sweat, the sensation of a corset, the weight and sound of armour or the taste of thread. Visitors are also invited to consider the meanings of theatre…
Find out more »Glow Up: Zine Workshop
Join in this creative workshop with Southend-based artist Lu Williams from Grrrl Zine Fair. Get hands-on and investigate health and beauty ideals promoted by social media and magazines. Reflect on diverse experiences and alternative uses of make-up and find out how grooming has been used for empowerment throughout history. 'Glow Up' is also an opportunity for you to learn how to make a zine (DIY magazine), take a look at the Grrrl Zine Library and discover zine culture and history.…
Find out more »‘Displays of Power’ Community Takeover
This family friendly event will be a celebratory and creative afternoon that will change your perception of the natural world. Here you can create your own museum interpretation inspired by the 'Displays of Power' exhibition that looks at where the animals in the collection came from. Whose voice takes pride of place in the narrative of the natural history museum? Rarely those of communities affected by the collection, acquisition, display and interpretation of museum objects. The 'Displays of Power' exhibition…
Find out more »The Secrets of the Fairlight CMI
This hands-on workshop is a rare opportunity to find out more about the Fairlight CMI, a musical instrument that could cost anywhere up to £100,000 when artists and groups like Afrika Bambaataa, Kate Bush, and Frankie Goes to Hollywood used it in the 1980s. Its Australian designers expected it to be used for imitating the sounds of orchestral instruments but its users began, instead, to record the sounds of everyday life. Researcher Paul Harkins, curator Annie Jamieson and former owner…
Find out more »Telling the Other Story
This screening of the documentary Some Stories will show what happened when fifteen Birmingham teenagers met fifteen Limerick teenagers in 2018 to swap stories from one another’s lives. One year on, these teenagers will reunite onstage after the screening to reveal its impact. In November 2018, 15 teenagers from Birmingham and 15 teenagers from Limerick were brought together to forge connections by telling each other’s stories. Amidst the endless talk of borders and backstops, of divisions and differences, the timing…
Find out more »Romancing the Gibbet – The Morrismen Murder
‘Romancing the Gibbet’ is a collaboration between poet, Ralph Hoyte and historian, Steve Poole, exploring ‘dark tourism’ at sites of extraordinary public execution in Georgian Britain. This is one of four related events for the festival where researchers will explain the historical background to a single public hanging, perform some spoken-word poetic responses, and introduce the project’s four free audio trails. At this event a sample audio-trail will be relocated in and around the venue for you to try out.…
Find out more »Derby’s Moon-Struck Philosophers Tour
Explore the hidden history of Derby and how the people who lived here influenced scientific, political and philosophical thinking around the world. Uncover facts about the city’s past and the national and international impact of some of its previous residents. A new library exhibition showcases the archives around members of the Derby Philosophical Society and their famous (and infamous) experiments. Alongside the exhibition, join this free guided walking trail and tour where you can discover the significance of secret spots…
Find out more »Death at Teatime
This free drop-in event aims to encourage wider conversations around death and dying in the UK and overseas. Through exploring both historical perspectives of death and bereavement, through to present day ethical dilemmas; anyone is welcome to come along, enjoy an afternoon tea and enter into the often-taboo discussion of death. A range of researchers will be on hand to talk more about their work in medical history, classical archaeology, and contemporary medical ethics. The gathering is set amongst a…
Find out more »Secret Writing in Margate Caves
Become part of the story of Margate’s newly reopened caves. Run by Creative Writing tutors from Canterbury Christ Church University, this event will inspire you to get writing in one of Thanet’s most atmospheric locations. Go underground to discover the hidden history of Margate and its literary associations. From Gothic ghost stories and Victorian visitors, what do the caves mean to you? Write a poem, learn the techniques of psychogeography or contribute to a ‘secrets bank’ - it’s up to…
Find out more »Enter the Chamber of Secrets
Do you dare to enter the chamber of secrets? Come along for a family fun day, including: 14:00-15:00 – ‘Discovering Your Digital Story’ – create your own two minute digital narrative. 14:00-15:00 and 15:00-16:00 - 'Opening the Chamber of Secrets' – writing mystery and storytelling chains, with two master-narratives – ‘Secrets of the Sea’ and ‘The Buried Past’. 14:00-15:00 and 15:00-16:00 - 'The Secrets of Ancient Egypt' – discover mummification, the secrets of hieroglyphs, the ancient game of Senet and…
Find out more »Makin’ Babies and the Law
In this 'zine making workshop, learn about the law regulating fertility treatment and feminist critiques of the same. Explore the legislation and case law which regulates embryo production and the devastating consequences this regulation can have for people who want to make babies (particularly women, trans-men and non-binary folk). Learn about the history of zines and then contribute pages to a collaboratively created zine addressing the issues discussed. No prior knowledge/experience needed! This event is part of the 'Beyond Bodies'…
Find out more »Sails, Whales, and Tails!
Designed and performed by the Chairman of The Magic Lantern Society, Jeremy Brooker, this event comprises a hair-raising, eye-popping visual performance using Victorian equipment and live musical accompaniment to bring our whaling and seafaring history back to life. Watch as a fantastical world of discovery and exploration opens up before your very eyes, from Dundee to infinity and beyond! Also includes explanatory talks (with a Q&A) and, at the end, a chance for the general public to take a closer…
Find out more »Touching the Past
Touching the Past is a series of workshops and interactive experiences with invited audience that encourages young people to explore Norfolk Museum’s collections data. Through playful interaction, participants uncover and manipulate hitherto overlooked words. Thematic connections are explored by re-arranging fragments of text using gestural interaction. The result is a fun and accessible experience that gives a unique insight into commonly overlooked archival records.
Find out more »Cartoneras in London
Cartoneras (Cardboard Publishing) is a unique grassroots Latin American publishing phenomenon, which offers alternative forms of community engagement, activism, and social change. Join in this workshop at the wonderful Migration Museum to learn about this empowering cultural phenomenon and see how the model is used to engage young Latin Americans in South London. A presentation by researchers Lucy Bell (University of Surrey) and María Soledad Montañez (School of Advanced Study) will be followed by a hands-on workshop where you can…
Find out more »The Secret Lives of Costume
Come along to 'The Secret Lives of Costume' and discover the profound ways in which clothing shapes the experience of our bodies and the world. This sensory walk backstage at the National Theatre invites audiences to pay attention to the senses we can use to engage with theatre costume, to the smell of sweat, the sensation of a corset, the weight and sound of armour or the taste of thread. Visitors are also invited to consider the meanings of theatre…
Find out more »Classified: A Performance of Queer Dating Ads
Come along to a very special performance by Timberlina and Auntie Maureen which will bring to life some of the coded, intriguing and sometimes naughty personal ads found at The National Archives and Bishopsgate Institute. Explore what archives can reveal about how queer networks and communication have evolved over the last hundred years. The Link was a ‘lonely-hearts’ style publication from the early 20th century, which sought to connect people. It is littered with coded language for men to meet…
Find out more »In Conversation with Greg Jenner
Join Dr Bob Nicholson (@DigiVictorian), historian of Victorian Pop Culture as he interviews Greg Jenner, the historical consultant for Horrible Histories. This event follows on from the We Are Not Amused! daytime activities taking place at The Atkinson on Saturday 23 November, 11:00-18:00.
Find out more »It’s All the Raj
What's black and white, black and white, black and white, black and white? A penguin rolling down a hill. What's funny about natural history museums? A lot. Find out more at this evening of comedy that will explore the hidden stories in the Grant Museum of Zoology's natural history collection, especially those that touch on the theme of decolonisation. The lack of discussion about the origins of collections in natural history museums misrepresents history and alienates many people. This event…
Find out more »Z-List, Dead List
Comedy show in which Iszi Lawrence (Radio 4’s Making History) challenges academics to champion the cause of neglected figures from history. This event follows on from the We Are Not Amused! daytime activities taking place at The Atkinson on Saturday 23 November, 11:00-18:00.
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