Recreating the past for live events, TV and film
Above: The grand finale from History in Action II, 1997. Photo: Neil Holmes.
History in Action 2000, which took place on 12-13 August at Kirby Hall, Northamptonshire, was the largest multi-period event ever held in Europe and probably the world. It featured 3,000 performers from 100 top groups, 150 displays a day in 8 performance areas plus within a huge living history area, large-scale battles including one featuring 3 World War Two Spitfires, plus drill and military displays, armoured vehicles, earth fortifications, massive living history encampments, medieval falconry, drama, comedy, music, dance, cooking, photographic and art exhibits, authors’ talks and book-signings,
historical traders’ market and a huge grand parade. Directed by Howard Giles whilst Head of Special Events for English Heritage, it was the organisation’s biggest event ever and their flagship display for Millennium year. It was also Howard’s last event for EH, having decided after 16 years to leave in order to offer his services more widely through EventPlan Limited.This was the fifth and largest of seven History in Action events. The show had steadily grown in size and complexity since the first one in June 1996. Created and developed by Howard, this ambitious annual event was a celebration of the best of British re-enactment (although quickly attracting overseas contingents too). He first experimented with multi-period events in 1992 with Armies of the Sussex Coast at Battle Abbey, but it was at Kirby Hall that his concept truly took off with an ideal location and excellent, unspoilt ambience.
The initial event featured 1000 re-enactors from 30 groups and attracted 7,000 visitors. It was a landmark event in the history of UK re-enactment and a spectacular leap forward for
historical events . Groups were able to see each other’s displays, bounce ideas off each other, socialise during the evenings and generally have a good time together. The result was an explosion of creativity with new groups, eras and displays. The audience much enjoyed the “through the ages” format in such an attractive setting and subsequent History in Action events drew larger and larger crowds, breaking all previous records for visitor numbers at EH events in 1998, 1999 and 2000. The latter achieved with a staggering 37,000 visitors over two days, which is probably still the largest audience for an event of this kind ever staged. Working within the modest staffing structure of English Heritage, the event was organised and staffed by a very small but highly skilled team, far smaller than sporting other events of this scale.Howard specialised in the many creative aspects of each event, scripting a number of the displays, narrating and directing, all on top of overseeing the practical planning of the complicated event infrastructure. Every ounce of experience went into making History in Action 2000 a massive success. Innovations introduced at History in Action included the use of Spitfires in a carefully controlled ground attack role, the recreation of a full Roman legionary Century of 80 men for the first time in 1500 years, field fortifications from, for example, a C17th sconce (fort) to an Eastern Front bunker of 1943, and the now famous chronological Grand Parade of participants, from the Iron Age to modern era.
Through EventPlan, Howard now organises new
multi-period events in the tradition of History in Action, for new clients, including a number of annual shows.Although due to changes within English Heritage, History in Action is itself now part of history, the excitement felt by audiences has lived on at other major multi-period events including the annual Festival of History and those staged by EventPlan - check out our 2008 programme, which includes multi-era shows in different locations around the country. With interest in history booming on TV and in the media as never before, event venues are increasingly turning to living history and re-enactment events as exciting and colourful visitor attractions. With a huge variety of eras available and more quality groups to work with than ever before, together with increasing opportunities for international events, there are many exciting opportunities waiting to be seized.
EventPlan welcomes approaches from venues and sponsors interested in mounting a History in Action - style multi-period spectacular. With our extensive experience and contacts, we can offer a first-class event that will take audiences’ breath away. Contact us for further details.
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Updated 31 July 2008