Historical pageantry: a favourite way for twentieth century Britons to engage with their past

‘Restaging the Past: Historical Pageants, Culture and Society in Modern Britain’ explores various aspects of historical pageants throughout twentieth century Britain. It draws together insights uncovered by the ongoing research project 'The Redress of the Past: Historical Pageants in Britain 1905-2016’, of which Dr Mark Freeman is a Co-Investigator.

Historical pageants were popularised early in the century by the Edwardians, giving communities a way to act out past traditions, history and even legend through dramatic performance. Pageants traditionally set out to educate and entertain, while serving as a poignant anchor to a community’s heritage.

Local and regional identity held a lot of appeal, for these events were held at a time of rapid economic and social change. However, many historical scenes revealed monocultural assumptions, and the book reveals how divided reactions reflected appetite for a more inclusive depiction of reality. Chapters explore how some pageant planning committees attempted to promote social cohesion with mixed success, at times highlighting emerging social or political divisions.

Other themes explored by the book include educational value, class, religion, and women’s history.

'The Redress of the Past’ project will host a day of talks, films, exhibitions, and performances on 20 February 2021 at Cecil Sharpe House.

Links

• Restaging the Past: Historical Pageants, Culture and Society in Modern Britain
• View Dr Mark Freeman’s research profile
• International Centre for Historical Research in Education (ICHRE)

Image: Worsley Pageant - The Armada, from the Mullineux Collection, Chetham's Library via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).