History Brought to Life

A Knight at the

Museum

Two young men dressed as explorers talking to a group of children inside a museum. One is holding a telescope prop and wearing a khaki hat, the other is wearing a broad-brimmed hat. A sign reads 'Friends of the Museum'.
A woman dressed as a Native American is giving a handing over a ritual object to a person dressed as a Native American in a park, with a group of children and a man watching nearby.

A Knight at the Museum marked the beginning of our History Brought to Life series — an ambitious collaboration with Southend Museums that brought local heritage vividly onto the stage. Performed in summer 2023, the project transformed the story of The Prittlewell Prince into an immersive promenade theatre experience, guiding audiences through the museum as history unfolded around them. Each performance was followed by a heritage art workshop led by artist Steve Lawes, deepening engagement and encouraging participants to creatively explore Southend’s rich past. With five performances a day over five days, A Knight at the Museum introduced hundreds of visitors to a powerful new way of connecting with history — one that is dynamic, participatory, and alive.

Three people in historical costumes performing in front of a blackboard with diagrams, in a room with brick walls; a man in a plaid shirt appears surprised, a woman in traditional dress holds a staff, and another man in a green tunic looks on.
Two young adults dressed in medieval or fantasy costumes, engaging in a conversation in front of a large, black and white Celtic knot art background. The woman wears a red cloak and beaded necklace, while the man wears a green tunic with decorative trim.

Who, Where, How Why, Wat Tyler

Children playing outdoors under a large orange cloth held by two adults, with festive bunting and colorful banners in the background.

Our Wat Tyler and the Peasants’ Revolt project was an exciting step in developing our History Brought to Life series, created in collaboration with Achieve Thrive Flourish (ATF) as part of the Holiday and Food (HAF) programme. Over two weeks in two Basildon schools, children explored one of the most significant uprisings in English history — not just by learning about it, but by living it. Through drama, set design, and prop making, participants brought the story of the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt vividly to life.

The project culminated in a participatory performance where the children shared what they had created and learned with family and friends, building confidence, teamwork, and a deeper connection to history. This creative development also laid the foundations for two major productions that followed in 2025, demonstrating how co-creation and education can inspire powerful new theatre.

Children dressed in white shirts holding signs with slogans and a young boy with a unicorn costume stand outdoors during a school protest or event, with a woman in black speaking to them, and a woman in black overseeing.
Text that reads 'The Museum of Living History' in a jagged font with a dark green color on a transparent background.

The Peasants’ Revolt!

The Museum of Living History: The Peasants’ Revolt! grew directly from the development work we began the previous year, expanding our vision of community-led storytelling and participatory performance. We started by delivering creative workshops across the Basildon community, inviting participants to help us build the museum — a space made with the community, for the community. Local people created handmade artefacts inspired by the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt, which were displayed as part of the final production, grounding the project in shared ownership and local pride.

Using scripts developed during our earlier work, we then embarked on five days of intensive rehearsals to create a vibrant, participatory children’s show that blended acting, movement, puppetry, shadow theatre, singing, and even bubbles. In collaboration with Oliver from Vanhulle Dance C.I.C., we added dynamic choreography and physical storytelling to enhance the energy and accessibility of the performance.

The result was a joyful, powerful production that brought Basildon’s local history to life — highlighting that change and activism have deep roots here, long before Basildon became a “new town.” The story of the Peasants’ Revolt reminds us that generations before us fought for justice, fairness, and workers’ rights — and their legacy continues to shape the society we live in today.

  • Children and adults sitting on the floor and chairs watching a shadow puppet show in a wooden hall with a white screen and dark walls.

  • A man smiling and wearing a medallion with a chain, holding a puppet, inside a frame decorated to resemble bricks, at The Museum of Living History, with a sign reading 'Unpuzzeled Theatre Company'.

  • A man leading a group of children in a dance or exercise activity inside a rustic wooden indoor space, with children raising their arms and following his movements.

  • Children and adults seated on the floor in a rustic wooden barn engaged in a puppet show, with a performer on stage holding a puppet and a puppet theater backdrop behind them.

What People Are Saying

“Amazing, interactive show, awesome props and super friendly staff. As a teacher, I felt this would be perfect in schools. I would highly recommend, and I look forward to seeing another show!”

— Audience Voice

“REVIEW 5 *

FAMILY FUN FOR THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS!

Imagine a real-life museum where you can actually go back in time!”

— Southend Theatre Scene

“I thought it was awesome!”

— James, aged 9