I took part in The Victorian Festival of Christmas at Portsmouth’s Historical Dockyard this year. If you have ever wandered why so many British actors get the best parts in Hollywood movies, then perhaps take a look at this year’s festival slide show on YouTube (by photographer Steve Spurgin): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mPDpbDtbO8
With very little rehearsal, over 400 volunteers dressed in Victorian costume to bring this attraction to life, for thousands of tourists from all over the globe.
In the UK, we live and breath theatre from an early age, starting with making costumes to take part in the school’s nativity play. History is now taught by people dressing up and re-enacting the period they are learning about, be it Romans or WWII. To learn Shakespeare for exams we do not just read the play, we act it. More people belong to amateur drama groups in Britain than sports societies.
Portsmouth is the birthplace of Charles Dickens. The Historical Dockyard is where centuries-old ships, such as Nelson’s Flagship The Victory, HMS Warrior and The Mary Rose etc are moored.
The dry dock is also where parts of Les Miserables was filmed. So all these scenes were brought to life by costumed actors, singers, school groups, historical and Victorian interest societies such as steam-punks or the Victorian Strollers.People from 5 to 80 years-of-age played famous Victorian or Dickensian characters for three full days and with very little breaks. It was in the open air while the tale-end of Hurricane Desmond was blowing a gale and in addition there were a few down-pours.
First visitors are greeted by carollers, then those in Victorian Uniforms, dockyard workers, stilt-walking-police, postal clerks, servicemen, sailors. Then by beggars, prostitutes and suffragettes – undertakers, a ruthless judge in a courtroom setting, prisoners, gliding angels, pearly kings & queens singing cockney musical hall ditties, workhouse children being enticed to steal by Fagin and the Artful Dodger, chimney sweeps, a green-gowned Father Christmas. There were snow machines, carousels, a Downton-Abbey type dinner table set with turkey and trimmings, various stage sets. There were three a pubs – one mock, one real with bands singing sea shanties and even an inflatable one. There was a market selling Christmas crafts and fayre from mulled cider to hog roasts.
I was part of Groundlings Theatre that organised around 200 of us. I played an aristocratic snob preaching Victorian manners. “It is the height of rudeness to have one’s elbows on the table.” At the end of each sketch, Charles the Butler pushes a custard pie in my face. I endured around 40 of those!
The finale each year is a parade lead by a full pipe band in kilts and bear-skins and headed by Queen Victoria. We were not allowed to carry phones and cameras, so I could only took a few snap-shots in the Green Room. Most of these photos are from Portsmouth News.
For more info about Portsmouth Historical Dockyard visit: www.historicdockyard.co.uk
Everyone looks like they are having a grand time. Would love to see this in person.! Hope you had a good time! You sure do lead an interesting life–for sure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was a good time. A lot does go on in this area good and bad, but it certainly is never boring.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Whar a treat.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Delightful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
How fun! What a great tradition! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What larks
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fun! I love the costumes, and they even had prostitutes?! Lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, actors as prostitutes – every port has them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It all looks fabulous. So much effort. It’s lovely to have an excuse to swish around in a long gown too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We had thermals and boots underneath to keep us warm. Best were the children – they really got into it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
40 custard pies? You deserve a medal. And here’s a piece of trivia you’ll enjoy about well-behaved Victorians. Several years ago I read a delightful book by Helen Wilson, who was born in NZ in 1869. It was called My First Eighty Years. Anyway (if my memory’s doing OK) she mentions meeting, as a youngster, two young women who seemed very posh. They told her that ladies didn’t stand in the street looking in shop windows (that was vulgar). They just walked into the shop. She believed them to be ladies, but later decided they were ladies’ maids who’d upped their status a bit after emigrating. As you do.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I can believe that. So much depends on someone’s accent and dress, which is a shame because local dialects are dying out. My husband always dresses smart and wears a suit if we fly anywhere – we often get upgraded because of that.
LikeLiked by 2 people
What a wonderful event to be involved in. Even with all those pies – agree you still deserve a medal too. I agree our theatre heritage is one to be proud of and it offers us many outlets too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The pies (shaving foam) gave me quite a sore face by the end – the chill wind did not help. But yes – playing other characters can be addictive and very much part of our culture
LikeLike
Ah, that does sound horrid. Lovely post though. I wish you a good Christmas and Happy New Year. Here’s to more blogging in 2016.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantastic! What a wonderful event, and everyone looks to be having a jolly time!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It looks great fun! My daughter would have fit in superbly here. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well that sounds like fun, fun, fun! I especially like the children in costume. And who couldn’t love Father Christmas at the helm!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Us chimney sweeps were the best, you know. And we’ll be back again this year, courtesy of the Groundlings
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! Ha! And I shall be back to see you too – don’t forget to wear your thermals!
LikeLike