22 June 2017
Students of all year groups from year 7 to year 11 are proud and excited to be taking part in Hoghton Tower’s celebration of the anniversary of James 1 visit in 1617.
Based on the Tower’s historic connection to Shakespeare, students are creating his theatre company “The Kings Men” and they will perform some of the bard’s most famous works to ”His Majesty King James”. With a traditional, and in some cases, a comedic twist they will tell the tale of star crossed lover’s, evil plotters and magical encounters in a short piece entitled “The Play's the Thing”.
It is an honour to perform in “The Kings’s Return” and it will be very atmospheric for students to be performing the words of Shakespeare to the same audience that he had when he was employed byJames 1 and became the most important contributor to English Literature. Students have been struck, as they rehearse, to how relevant these plays are today, and in our age of mobile phones and social media they still can identify with the characters and the stories.
“The King's Return” is a heritage funded project to commemorate the historic visit to Lancashire of James 1 in 1617 it is being presented by HoghtonTower on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th July. http://www.hoghtontower.co.uk/event/relive-history-king-returns-hoghton-tower/
On these days the company “History Needs You” will recreate the pageantry of this event .
At 10.30 the King and entourage will process up the drive of the long drive of this Historic House.
11.00 The King arrives in the courtyard and enters the Great Hall where he will give audience to the General who can bring forward their petitions.
12.30 Students from all year groups at Walton-le Dale High School will perform “The Play's the Thing"
13.00 The King Returns to the Hall where he will participate in a feast and perform the anointing of the beef. “I anoint this beef Sir Loin”
Events will continue to throughout the day with until 16.00.
This is a full re-enactment with costume and other activities relating to the period. The Hoghton Family has contacted families whose ancestors also go back to the this time and many of them are participating in the event .
This should be a landmark Lancashire event and we at Walton-le-Dale would like you to join us!
Hoghton Tower
