Some of the UK's top broadcasters, writers and thinkers will be exploring a whole range of fascinating topics at the inaugural Cirencester History Festival this Autumn 2024.
The brand-new festival brings together local, national and global history experts for a series of around-town events from Saturday 26 October to Sunday 3 November 2024, with over 30 immersive family-friendly activities taking place throughout, too.
The varied programme takes place at venues across town, including the Church of St John the Baptist, The Barn Theatre, Corinium Museum, Cirencester Library, New Brewery Arts and the Royal Agricultural University.
Headliners include war correspondent and leading military historian, Max Hastings, who will share a thrilling account of WWII's Operation Biting; while podcast fans are in for a treat with a live-audience recording of The Rabbit Hole Detectives, where hosts Reverend Richard Coles, bestselling archaeologist Dr Cat Jarman and historian Charles Spencer will explore the origins of some of history's most fascinating objects.
Presenter and author Jonathan Dimbleby will trace the current conflict between Putin and the West back to Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt in 1944; while mythologist Natalie Haynes will bring Greek goddesses to life with her stand-up show, 'Divine Might'.
A timely talk will see witch expert Ronald Hutton reveal the pagan roots of Halloween; while medieval fans can join authors Alison Weir and Nicola Tallis to explore the rivalry between sister queens Mary I and Elizabeth I, followed by Matthew Lewis, Nathen Amin and Nicola Tallis debating who killed the princes in the tower.
Bestselling historian and broadcaster Marc Morris will delve into the Anglo-Saxons and the myths surrounding the beginnings of England; while fellow broadcaster and anthropologist Mary-Ann Ochota will uncover Britain’s mysterious past through its most intriguing artefacts.
Coin collector Gareth Harney reveals the fascinating backstory to the
bloody Ides of March through contemporary Roman coinage; and children’s author Annelise Gray delves into the deadly
Roman sport of chariot racing.
Dr Janina Ramirez,
president of Gloucester History Festival, will kick off the festival on 26
October with a new talk on mystical medieval women.
There will also be an exploration of local history with events including an illustrated exploration of Cirencester’s lost Georgian brewery; a new take on the end story of Chedworth Roman Villa; and the surprising history of sheep farming in the Cotswolds.
Family-friendly activities include learning how to write a historical novel at Waterstones; baking a traditional pie with the Cotswold Cookery School; making a historical villain Halloween costume with The Barn Theatre and New Brewery Arts; sculpting a clay gargoyle at the Corinium Museum; a behind-the-scenes tour of the town's old House of Fraser building; and much more.
For more information and to book tickets, go to cirencesterhistoryfestival.org.
