The People’s Revolt Review

“Do you hear the people sing?

Singing a song of angry men?

It is the music of a people

Who will not be slaves again!”- Les Miserables

These lyrics echoed in my mind as I prepared myself for The People’s Revolt, an immersive, interactive experience. DifferencEngine theatre company in collaboration with Historic Royal Palace created this experience which is heavily based on the 1381 People’s Revolt.

Set in the future, government cuts and taxes have pushed the people to breaking point and tens of thousands are ready to storm the Tower and take back what is theirs. You have joined the revolution and now must play your part. Prior to your experience you will be given a codename and password to log onto the digital platform. When you meet the other revolutionaries at the designated start point near Tower Bridge, you can only introduce yourself by your code name and this will remain your identity throughout the experience. You will then be ushered into a room where you will meet your leader. Your objectives will also be explained: to infiltrate the securely guarded Tower, to force Chancellor Sudbury to lose his popularity, and to crack the code to open the main gates to allow our fellow revolutionaries to enter the Tower.

Once inside, you’ll face a number of characters and choices including moral dilemmas. If you succeed, will you choose whether Sudbury lives or dies? If one of your number is hurt, will place self-preservation and the revolution first? If you fail in your objective, the revolution will be set back. No pressure at all.

The experience lasts for one hour and involves problem solving, team work, decision-making under pressure and role-playing. Most of the events take place outside and there is even some running on uneven surfaces, so please wear comfortable shoes and appropriate clothing. The plot successfully places contemporary social injustices within 600+ year old history. The ‘living history’ Tower of London is itself a spectacular setting. The drizzling rain on the night we attended accentuated the already stunning night view of the Tower of London. Indeed, running around the labyrinth that is the Tower of London at night was my favourite part of the evening.

A fascinating, enjoyable, interactive journey that I thoroughly enjoyed and would highly recommend. Do you have what it takes to join the revolution and make history?

Available dates: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,9, 11,12, 13, 14, 17,18, 19, 20, 21 October 2017

Time: 18.00, 18.30, 19.00, 19.25, 19.50

Tickets: Full Price: £25.50, Concessions: £23.00 (Including HRP member, Students, Tower Hamlet Residents)

Website for HRP: https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/explore/the-people-s-revolt

Website for differencengine: www.differencengine.co.uk

Facebook for HRP: www.facebook.com/toweroflondon

Facebook for differencengine: www.facebook.com/DifferencEngine

Twitter for HRP: www.twitter.com/toweroflondon

Twitter for differencengine: www.twitter.com/differencEngine

Instagram: www.instagram.com/historicroyalpalaces

Written by Caitlin Neal