Elizabethan Fayre 2024
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 FREE fayre is a popular date in Knowsley’s annual events calendar and this year will be even more special as Knowsley the Borough also celebrates its 50th birthday.
Download the full schedule here.
Take a look at what’s on…
Incomplete Works of Shakespeare
Shakespeare’s not turned up, so his cast must make it up… in front of the king (which could be YOU)! With your help, this hilarious, madcap troupe will complete The Bard's new masterpiece – or it’s off with their heads!
Wing It Impro and Rubbish Shakespeare Company present a completely improvised Shakespeare play! Using clowning, physical comedy and live music, this spontaneous roaming Shakespeare show is a ridiculously joyous, family-friendly event.
Taking place as half hour chunks across the Elizabethan Fayre, you could get the honour of deciding whether our cast live or die. Don't worry if you've missed a segment - we'll catch you up in our own ridiculous way.
Suitable for all, including those new to Shakespeare - or even theatre itself.
Performed by: Rob Bond, Kirsti Heitmann, Danny Bradley, Ryan K Byrne and Mark Smith.
Find them on socials:
Twitter / X: @rubbishshakes / @wingimpro
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.
Waggle Bees
Follow this swarm of super friendly bees as they search for a new home.
Meet the colony; Queen Beeatrix, The Beezey Rider, BayBee, Granny Bee, Scout Bee and Lord Bumbleton III as they try to adapt to life outside the hive. Save the Bees! Make friends with them! Feed them! Watch them do their Waggle Dance! In this high impact, interactive, playful show. A walkabout act the whole family will be buzzing about.
You'll find out more about them on X / Twitter or Instagram.
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.
Shakespeare North Playhouse Guided Tours
Drop in for a free 20-minute snapshot view of one of the most authentic Shakespearean theatres in the world. These Guided Tours will be taking place between 11am and 12pm and offer a glimpse of what makes the Playhouse a Theatre Building Of The Year winner. See inside the oak-framed Cockpit Theatre and drink in the atmosphere of one of the most authentic Shakespearean Theatres in the world.
Fancy lunch as well? Book yourself an Elizabethan Afternoon Tea and pick up a treat from the sunny Shakespearean stall!
Jester Parade
Wear a little something colourful & come & join the Imaginarium Jester Parade!
Catch a glimpse of the giant Shakespeare puppet crafted by Artist Jennie Wishart with local families and community folk.
Parade FINALE performances will take place outside Deanes House, 1.30pm - 2pm, with Imaginarium Youth Theatre companies, Imaginarium Drummers & Imaginarium Fire & Flo Community.
Costumes and props made by the Imaginarium Sewers and Makers and local families with artists Jenny Wishart and Liz Shelbourne and kind volunteers from Face Forward Knowsley.
Parade kindly supported by Culture Knowsley. Youth Theatre shows kindly supported by Knowsley Council and Shakespeare North Playhouse.
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.
- 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!
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Don't forget to pop into the glorious Prescot Parish Church located at the heart of the town with the town at its heart. Our heritage team will be on hand for guided tours and there are treasure hunt activities to engage our youngest visitors. Or simply come to light a candle and rest a while in this prayer-soaked space. Pooches are welcome too!