Gladiators at London Guildhall

[Caballo]

Thanks to Britannia for organising a great couple of days at Guildhall- sell outs at all four shows with 1,500 people at each show. Crowd reaction - especially by the last show - very bloodthirsty, with drumming of feet and chanting- very atmospheric. Good to meet other RAT people such as Medicus matt as well.
Some pics here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pastlondon/

And early Youtube videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7tm7Y8nz48
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yTVwZJSr8s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l-zcqPOmWY


Look forward to seeing more pictures and videos!

[richsc]

Caroline Lawrence posted quite a few on her Facebook page, including these gladiatrices

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=...483&type=1

Any idea which group they are with?

[Caballo]

Both Britannia.

The band were excellent too! Pics here from Roman Rob- good to see you!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2...=1&theater

[Medicus matt]

All of the gladiators and gladiatrices were from Britannia.
Having had the honour of providing (with the excellent Chris Groocock) the commentary for the event, and having whipped 6000 bloodthirsty plebs into a screaming frenzy, I'm having a restful day at home today.

[Caballo]

And more...

The procession with the Emperor, his Batavian guard, and the legionaries of Legio XIIII GMV.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-g7YOjNX...re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X3pAGgwNuY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgmJZEA9D...re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyDXxbELs...re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3O5iOtTo9I&NR=1

[Nautia_67]

...having whipped 6000 bloodthirsty plebs into a screaming frenzy, I'm having a restful day at home today.

A very well-earned one at that!

[Statius]

Was a great weekend. In the middle of the arena sand with a baying mob of 1500 screaming for your death is a moment that will live me for a long time.

Amazing crowds each day and the desire of the public to learn more prior to the shows at the living history stalls prior to the shows was a joy to behold. Great co-operation between Britannia, the 14th and the Colchester chaps was also a high point of what was a truly memorable experience. Without doubt the witty yet informative banter of Messrs Bunker and Groocock added considerable gravitas and humour to the occasion.

Happy Client (Museum of London), happy audience and happy re-enactors. A true reminder of why we get involved in this hobby :lol:

[Statius]

Was a great weekend. In the middle of the arena sand with a baying mob of 1500 screaming for your death is a moment that will live me for a long time.

Amazing crowds each day and the desire of the public to learn more prior to the shows at the living history stalls prior to the shows was a joy to behold. Great co-operation between Britannia, the 14th and the Colchester chaps was also a high point of what was a truly memorable experience. Without doubt the witty yet informative banter of Messrs Bunker and Groocock added considerable gravitas and humour to the occasion.

Happy Client (Museum of London), happy audience and happy re-enactors. A true reminder of why we get involved in this hobby :lol:

[Caballo]

And one more, with lots of stills.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AxM5knQCHE

Now, that music sounds awfully familiar......


And finally, Domitian's entry, headed by his Batavian guards....

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?...6914136484

[Paul Elliott]

That looks awesome. Puts a smile on my face watching it. Well done!

[chrisanson]

A letter sent to Time Out magazine about Britannia's gladiators:

Dear Sir,
Time Out 2136's feature on the "Gladiator Games" prompted my family to go along and check out what the fuss was about. After strolling around the stalls and scenes of Roman Londinium (during which my ten year old daughter haggled with a Roman lady who wanted to buy her hair and my six year old son narrowly escaped being press ganged into the Legion), we shouted ourselves hoarse supporting the London gladiatorial team against the Colchester visitors from Essex.

It was terrific, fake blood flying everywhere, a magnificent entrance by Caesar and plenty of gladiatorial combat. We had a brilliant time and as relatively sceptical, non-Olympic-ticket-getting Londoners, we can safely say that if this event is indicative of the rest of the Cultural Olympiad then it's going to be well worth it.

During the Games, my daughter leaned over to me and said "Mum, you do know that that lady Gladiator (Amazonia) was on the bus with us on the way here, I recognise her sandals".
It could only have happened in London.

(The Batavians- CRS & Legio 14 RMRS did us proud too!)

[M. Demetrius]

What a great event! Hope everyone is rested and back to normal. Magna laudes!

[Wayland]

http://youtu.be/4T-piRTJ7Ws

[ParthianBow]

Fantastic - well done to everyone who was involved! I would have loved to have been there

Question: Why has London not staged this type of thing before??? (If it has over the last 5 years or so, it's been poorly advertised.)

[Caballo]

One final picture....