Presentations:

Preparing the world - Richard Talbot
What processes are available to devise Museum Performance. What performance forms are beneficial for training performers, site managers and so on. In Triangle Theatre Company (1988-2010), we started by looking by looking through the structure of the day and working out how long each event might take, according to the timescale of the historical period being addressed. Then we could decide on a running order of activities. This banal activity becomes extraordinary and performative if we think of it in terms of immersion of participants, that is, in terms of the quasi-historical 'world' we are trying to establish. We start to ask practical questions like: How will the visitor experience the timetable that dictates the lives of the characters in the site ? How will we induct them into this world through the operational or processual elements of tasks ? How can they participate rather than be passive observers ? Using a website (initially a collaborative wikipage) to do this, and to communicate with other performers, became a determining factor. Its pages and layout help us think how we want to organise information on the day and how we would like to provide access. We begin discussing the events with an ear to how they will be coded or described within the terms of the 'world' of the characters/roles/personae within it. Thus, the more we get into the logistics of administration the more we create a reality. This presentation asks what this process says about the actual world we design, reference and 'inhabit'? For example, due to the dominance of the clock is it dominated by regulation, explanation, certification, litigation? Where is there space for creativity outside of the  historical and 'accurate' timetable, and what may be considered to be 'off-timetable'?

Triangle & Immersive Museum Theatre - Carran Waterfield, Director
I want to talk about the role of the visitor, the role of the interpreter or interactor and the role of the outside eye. I will offer an overview of Triangle's work in this field with an example of an immersive experience with young people.

Volunteer Interpretation at The National Trust -  Ted Veitch, Volunteer
Ted Veitch has been a volunteer guide at Charlecote Park for over 25 years. He will explain why and how The National Trust works with guides, and look at some of the methods that are used to inform the visitor and respond to their questions.

Fact & Fiction: Collaborative Interpretation - Richard Talbot, Performer
First person interpretation "I am Mary Elizabeth Lucy" and third person interpretation "the Victorians would have.." present different kinds of emotional relation with the audience. Triangle practices a method of second person interpretation. This encourages collaborations with visitors of all ages and volunteer guides who become participants in the job of interpretation. This workshop looks at techniques for developing shared narratives. The workshop is divided into two halves (1) & (2) - see "Parties".

A Foot in Both Camps: Pastiche, Parody & Living History - William Roberts, Persona
Costumed performance has a tendency to become camp. Why might that be ? How can this tendency be exploited without discarding historical information ? We will look at the idea of performance within performance, and the different demands of staged events versus interaction. This workshop is divided into two halves (1) & (2) - "Parties".

I'll Never be a Nursery Maid - Lindsey Chapman, Performer
The life of a scullery maid: A brief tour of the scullery, kitchens and out buildings in order to orientate prospective new staff will be conducted at the same time as preperations for dinner are made. I also hope there will be time to conduct a discussion of the aspirations of those of us 'in service'.