The History of Britain as you've never seen it before - 4th July - Woburn Abbey

This summer The Pantaloons Theatre Company are touring the country with their own inimitable take on the History of Britain - and this hilarious show is coming to Woburn Abbey on 4th July.

With mud, blood and stiff upper-lips, The Pantaloons' History of Britain presents our country's past as you've never seen it before.

Join a breathless race through the centuries in this delightfully inventive open-air show that tells the story of Britain in under two hours.

Harold II and William the Conqueror don’t see eye to eye. Henry VIII decides five marriages just isn’t enough. Queen Victoria is most certainly not amused...

This historically hysterical show is packed with songs, sketches and silliness and is suitable for all ages.

The critically-acclaimed Pantaloons began life ten years ago as an open-air theatre company, busking plays for donations in parks and on the streets, where they developed an attention-grabbing, interactive and playful performance style.

"We characterise our work as post-modern folk theatre," says Mark Hayward, a founding member of the company and co-writer of the play. "We take well-loved tales - in this case stories from history - and give them a contemporary twist, making them accessible for new audiences and showing seasoned fans something that they perhaps had not seen in them before."

The Pantaloons have picked up plenty of loyal followers and a lot of critical acclaim and have quickly become one of the country's most prolific touring companies - and even they're not entirely sure how and when that happened.

In true Pantaloons tradition the show will include plenty of original live music, puppetry, audience participation and improvisation.

"The show will feature some more serious moments," says Hayward. "There's some quite moving stuff in there that we really wanted to treat with respect. Of course, there is also a rich vein of comedy to mine in the history of Britain and we'll be squeezing out every last drop!"

So pack a picnic, jump in your time machine, bring the whole family and be prepared for the theatrical event of the millennia!

To see full tour dates visit www.thepantaloons.co.uk

Horrible history is child’s play at England’s greatest Elizabethan house

Burghley House and Deer

New family tours by costumed guides revealing the grizzly, gruesome and horrible history of England’s greatest Elizabethan house this summer.

New for 2013 at Burghley House, on the edge of the stone town of Stamford in Lincolnshire, is a children’s guidebook called Beastly Boring Burghley, offering a colourful and comical look at the history of one of Britain’s most spectacular Tudor country estates.

Now Beastly Boring Burghley is being brought to life like never before with new daily tours throughout July and August when Burghley’s own ‘Butler and Maid’ will take families on an exciting journey through this remarkable House. 

Free with a House and Gardens ticket, the special guided tours will take place every morning from Monday 22nd July to Saturday 31st August (excluding Fridays and Sundays),

Numbers are limited, but can be booked online with tickets reserving a place on the tour as well as giving access to the House and Gardens for the rest of the day. Every child joining the tour will also get a free Beastly Boring Burghley guidebook.

The 20-page book takes children on a journey around the house, with puzzles, activities and things to spot in each room – such as finding turtle skulls in the Kitchen, secret animal code names in the Billiard Room and English villains in the Pagoda Room.

For those not taking part in one of the special tours, the guidebook covers rooms in the same order as in the adult guidebook, giving parents and grandparents a chance to have a good look around while the Beastly Boring Burghley activities and puzzles keep children entertained! The cartoon-style illustrations and child-friendly text also reveal plenty of historical information too.

For the last four centuries Burghley - built for Elizabeth I’s chief minister William Cecil, the first Lord Burghley - has wowed visitors, whether Elizabethan royalty, locals enjoying the parkland or tourists from across the globe. 

It now offers a packed family day out with a combined ticket giving access to the stunning history and architecture of the House, and its huge collection of treasures, plus two gardens, including the Tudor-inspired Garden of Surprises with its 32 water features. 

For full details of opening times, events and to book online tickets, visit  www.burghley.co.uk or telephone 01780 752451.