Skip to 0 minutes and 7 seconds The way we have fun says a lot about us and the world we live in. Our hobbies and interests are closely tied to our values and even our sense of identity. The vivacious Tudors were no different but for them, work and play were often intertwined. Entertainment was an important part of image building, a way to influence and impress the crowds.
Skip to 0 minutes and 37 seconds Monarchs like Henry VIII and Elizabeth I presided over lavish courts in some of the most spectacular palaces ever built. It was a dramatic period in Britain’s history, bursting with pageantry, celebrations and extravagance, as well as some darker pleasures, which are more shocking to discover. I’m Dr Tracy Borman, Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces. During this free online course, I’ll be exploring Hampton Court, the ultimate pleasure palace. And I’ll also be visiting the Tower of London, where some of the more brutal spectacles took place. And I’m Dr Charles Farris, Public Historian for the History of the Monarchy. And I’ll be getting up close to the action to find out what the Tudors actually did for fun.
Skip to 1 minute and 26 seconds Together with colleagues at Historic Royal Palaces and a range of experts, we will investigate an age of flamboyant entertainment, from the sports and spectacle of Henry VIII’s reign to the Golden Age of Elizabeth I when arts and culture thrived.
Skip to 1 minute and 48 seconds We’ll discover that pleasure, power and politics always went hand-in-hand. And that the Tudor court wasn’t just a world of wonders, but the ultimate propaganda machine. You’ll even have a chance to try out some Tudor entertainments for yourself. So, join us on an intriguing voyage of discovery into the history of Tudor entertainment.
