Elizabethan Fayre 2025
Celebrate Prescot’s Elizabethan heritage at this year’s Elizabethan Fayre.
It’ll be a fun-filled day packed with theatre performances, circus skills, craft workshops, music, artisan stalls and more. Experience a piece of Tudor history, with candle making, musical minstrels, archery and a Tudor kitchen. There might even be an appearance from Queen Elizabeth I herself!
Prescot’s history is quite remarkable – in Elizabethan times it was the only place in the whole of the country, aside from London, to have a free-standing purpose-built theatre.
Today it is home to Shakespeare North Playhouse, a new theatre and cultural venue in the heart of the town inspired by William Shakespeare and his love of storytelling.
The fayre is a popular date in Knowsley’s annual events calendar and it’s FREE to attend.
Look at what’s on…
Smoked
Calling all young knights, warrior maidens, princes and princesses. Your country needs you! Do you have what it takes to overcome your fears? Can you tame the beast?
Knight of the Realm, Sir Manly or his wife Lady Lovely seek the brave of heart to join the Order of St George: Defender of Dragons.
This storybook walkabout brings you the Knight of the Realm, Sir Manly, or his wife Lady Lovely, as they seek the brave of heart to join the Order of St George: Defender of Dragons. Experience with wild animals is advantageous though not required.
Performance times
12.15pm Prescot Shopping Centre
2.00pm SNP Piazza TBC
3.00pm Deanes circular area
Instagram: @rubbishshakespeare / @wing_it_impro
Facebook: @rubbishshakespeare / @wingimpro
Terrible Tudor Tales
A telling of tall tales, lusty lies and foul fabrications in a manner most uncommon for these times, but once enjoyed by all goodwives and honest jacks.
Come one, come all, gather close and hear tell the very tales that made folk laugh lustily and, roar loudly in Tudor times. Stories that were shared in tavern yards, churchyards, market places and anywhere else our ancestors gathered together long ago. Stories about the 'common sort’ - the likes of you an me, and about lazy, long limbed lads, wise and witty women, foolish fops in fine attire, deals with the Devil and even cut purses and coney-catchers, the beguilers of the gullible who plied their trade in the very alehouses and on the streets where the tales were so often told.
Find them on Facebook or X / Twitter.
Elizabethan Shadow Puppets
Get creative and make your own Elizabethan shadow puppets and create your own shadow puppet show, with ArtsGroupie CIC, a group of local freelance artists.
Young or old can get involved to create this performance using everyday items like cardboard, cereal boxes and household lights.
(Mikey Dunne, Margaret Connell, Samantha Alton, and John Maguire)
Examples of our Shadow Box stories can be viewed on YouTube or Facebook.
Bring the Fire
Experience a show like no other as Prescot lights up with jaw dropping fire shows from Bring the Fire Project. Performances will be throughout the afternoon outside Prescot Parish Church.
Get ready to see the fire jesters in action showing off their dynamic fire dancing skills accompanied by the sounds of the bardcore music that will take you back in time.
Visit their website for more information, or find them on Facebook or Instagram.
Danny Le Wonk
Join Bubble Fairy Danny Le Wonk and her magical bubble potion! Pop giant bubbles and even get a chance to make some yourself!
Find out what to expect by visiting their website, or checking out the Bubble Fairy on Instagram or Facebook.
The Story Forge: Make Your Own Tudor Myth
Who is the God of quills? How did Prescot come to be? What ancient crime was pantaloons the punishment for… And why were they inflicted upon us?
Senior academics of history, and rather silly men, Professor Doctor Lee Hithersay and Doctor Professor Robert Rhys Bond, forge three new Tudor tales from the minds of people on the street - and a boatload of cardboard props!
Help shape the stories and even become a hero from English folklore -- like the Faerie Queen herself -- in this hilarious 16th Century themed interactive experience!
The renowned Rubbish Shakespeare Company -- in association with Silly History Boys -- present three special editions of their critically acclaimed touring show. A high-octane spectacle for children and childish adults. Featuring clowning, storytelling, physical comedy, live music and more. You’d be mad to myth it!
Performed by: Lee Hithersay, Robert Rhys Bond and Danny Bradley
Performance Times
1pm, 2.30pm and 3.45-4.15pm @ Deanes House and Leyland Street performance areas.
Circus Skills
Watch daring and dramatic Circus Skills demos, and learn how to perform some of the tricks for yourself!
Elizabethan Portraits
Would you like to be immortalised in ink as an Elizabethan queen or a medieval court jester? Award winning children's book illustrator, Gill Smith will be creating sketchy portraits of anyone brave enough to sit in the yellow chair.
Visit Gill's website to see examples of her work, or follow her on Instagram.
Birds of Prey
Have your photo taken with the beautiful birds and find out more about the conservation work around these majestic creatures.
Pot making
Make your own clay pinch pot. It’s the simplest way to making pottery and you can take away your very own practical or decorative clay pot.
Mucky Mountains Morris Dancers
The dance troupe will be performing their usual lively renditions of folk music in the Cotswold and Border traditions, and are guaranteed to put a smile on your face!
Candle making
Make your own candle using the tools and ingredients that would have been used in Elizabethan times.
Tudor Kitchen
Discover what was on the menu in Elizabethan times and how it would have been cooked with this live cooking demonstration of traditional Elizabethan fodder.
Also…
- Enjoy musical performances around the town centre from Tudor minstrels who will be playing shawms, drums, medieval bagpipes and Tudor violins.
- Have a go at archery and learn some new circus skills.
- Learn more about the history of Prescot in the Elizabethan era with local historian Alan Makin.
- Take part in sewing classes and make your own ruff.
- Become character from one of Shakespeare’s plays with fun face painting.
- Look out for Queen Elizabeth and Sir Francis Drake and have your photo taken with Royalty!
- Market Stalls selling a range of hand made goods, bakes, jewellery and more.