Behind the Scenes

Meet some of the unsung heroes, those whose work behind the scenes as well as the stars of the pageantry and fun…

Roman Soldier - Chris Haines

Chris is from the Roman Centurion group, the Ermine Street Guard, which was started in 1972 and now has about 60 members. ‘We cover the earliest period of the festival and our work leading up to it involves a lot of research and interaction with archaeologists and academics,’ Chris explains. ‘In the arena people can see us using reproduction Roman weapons. While in the living history encampment you can experience Roman cooking and see traditional crafts. We also have two handmade tents that are the only authentic Roman tents in the world.’ Chris thinks the festival is so special because it’s such a high-quality, multi period event. He sees it as the highlight of the historic world’s year, a landmark event. ‘Only the very best re-enactors are invited to take part,’ he says. The Ermine Street Guard must be doing something right – Chris was awarded an MBE for services to Roman history in the New Year’s Honours list.

World War I Soldier - Stephen Wisdom

Stephen, known to his friends as Abs, created the hugely popular World War I trench at last year’s festival and is looking forward to re-creating an even more authentic trench this year with the sites, sounds and smells of World War 1. ‘It will be just like visiting a film set,’ he says.

Last year, the trench experience included periscopes that looked out on genuine hand-coloured images of the battlefield at Passchendaele. ‘The public looked out onto a torn-up battlefield. We always try to make an environment that fully immersive,’ says Abs. After falling in love with history, Abs went to Art College, where he became involved in making props. He later worked with the Royal Armouries, for whom he built his first trench system. One of Abs’s favourite things about festival is the enthusiasm displayed by English Heritage staff. ‘They understand that people like the authenticity of the smell of wood smoke and chickens running around,’ he says.

Musician - Paul Saunders

Paul is the co-ordinator and MC of the festival stage. As a professional musician, he has a great interest in the music that has played its role in the fabric of England from the twelfth through to the twenty-first centuries.

‘The music we play at festival isn’t necessarily English,’ he explains. ‘For example, the dance music of the 1940s is largely American. Similarly, in the nineteenth-century African rhythms merged with English dance tunes. Thus our involvement in the slave trade produced the quadrille dance craze, a stylistic change that’s one more step towards disco.’ The festival stage doesn’t only host music – it provides a broad range of entertainment that tells the story of British social life throughout the centuries. Paul sees the stage as a great opportunity to spotlight the role of music and entertainment in everyday life, how it has evolved over the centuries and how it reflects and forms the social mores of the times.

Elizabeth I - Becca Holland

Becca has played many roles at festival, inlcuding Queen Elizabeth I as part of the My Kingdom for a Horse show. ‘I ride sidesaddle and deliver Elizabeth’s best-known speech, the one she gave to her troops at Tilbury before they fought the Spanish Armada,’ she says. ‘I’ve had wonderful opportunities to represent some amazing women in history. There have been many strong female characters and it’s fantastic, as well as umbling, to represent them and learn about them. I also love the costumes.’ Becca became interested in historical re-creation at the age of 19, when she joined an English Civil War group. Her favourite part of the festival is its atmosphere. ‘I love the buzz when everyone is getting ready to go out into the arena.To see almost 3,000 performers from all over the globe is pretty special. Most of all, though, it’s the look on the children’s faces, when they get to pat the queen’s horse or have their photo taken with a real-live knight that makes festival truly special.’