Here is the calendar of King Henry VIII for 2008.

As with all activity based workshops one must provide a detailed Risk Assessment. Please click here for our Company Risk Assessment sheets.
Click here to download this file
Good to know there are enough Rain Forests to keep PC alive!

Hot off the press!
The Henry Tudor Drama Company has the pleasure of offering another workshop for schools:
The Children's Court of Queen Elizabeth I

Just enquire as usual via this website and ask for details, This new workshop will be fully available by September 2008.


See her website www.ElizabethTudor.co.uk

Some teachers wanted to know what the difference, apart from cost and location between Henry visiting a school and the school visiting Henry at Samlesbury Hall. Mainly the cost of the coach, and scenery can never be the same as the real thing, but we think we are quite close. Here are the two sets.

There is a third alternative which nobody has tried yet.
You could hire Henry and all his activities to perform in a Tudor house near your school, but you have to organise the house to accept an outsider to come and bring his own workshop!

Trying to keep this website up to date is not an easy job, so many emails to answer, pictures to process. But here is one very fine school from Shirebrook near Mansfield, England. Pictures taken on 26th September 2007. "When the King came to town"


Tudor in schools
By Henry Tudor

Live it out as if it’s real
The court of King’s you aim to feel
Be scared at first, but soon befriend
His scary image, he’ll soon end.
Impossible, incredible can it be true?
King Henry walks, talks with all of you.
He takes you on a whirlwind tour
Of Palace life he did endure.
So now take heed young scholar true
Is Henry real? It’s up to you.
After this day of Tudor court
Did you enjoy it? Is what is sought.
As Henry leaves in big white van
Was he really that big bad man?



Know All Henry
I must have been asked 100’s of times if I have written down all the sayings and words I explain in my usual Henry manner. They would buy the book just for to learn the origins. Taking this on board during my sabbatical in Scotland, I have written the said book. In A5 format it is twenty four pages containing 200 identified meanings written by a man with attitude.
If you want copy please enquire via my partners on the book production, Samlesbury Hall, www.SamlesburyHall.co.uk The cost is £3 plus postage, and even though Henry tells me this is cheap I will not listen to his greed.



I was asked recently in the questions section"How many costumes do you use to be a King?" I thought the reply should be pictorial and placed here for prospective clients.

I have two top-end grade 1 King Henry costumes + I have two excellent grade 2 King Henry Costumes + I have available a seriously exact Grade 1+ King Henry Costume + I have One good Edward VII Suit. I have 7 very good authentic hats plus three extra inner suits for quick changing in hot weather. Three complete sets of jewellery, two pairs of authentic tudor shoes.
Total value in excess of £10,000. It takes a lot of effort to collect such a wardrobe but all would be useless without the face to go with it all, and the knowledge of being the Tudor King. This means not just knowing the knowledge but applying it from Henry viewpoint. Walking, talking and that Royal attitude took a lot of practice. The most influential learning experiences have been working in the real places on the real furniture in the real rooms and talking to the people who look after them all.


Henrytudor@blueyonder.co.uk

To read just what this King has to offer, please download this file.
Click here to download this file

An article from Blackpool's Gazette:
Henry VIII tells Year 4 all about those heady Tudor times...

THESE young courtiers had to mind their manners when they met a very important person.
Fearing it would be off with their heads, children at Layton Primary School were on their best behaviour for Henry VIII.

England’s most famous king was in school to teach youngsters the traditional arts of writing with a quill, brass rubbing and Tudor dancing.

Rachel England, Year Four team leader, was hugely impressed with the historical lookalike she found at Preston’s Samlesbury Hall.

She said: “He stayed in character all day and there wasn’t a question he couldn’t answer, which was fantastic, because there were a lot of questions.

“The children are learning about the Tudors in history lessons and this was a great way to bring the period to life.

“He told them lots about the king and the ordinary people in Tudor times. The children had lots of fun and learned a great deal too.”

The king had lunch with the children but, happily, used a knife and fork instead of just his fingers.
Last Updated: 28 March 2007

And another Blackpool article!
www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=62&ArticleID=1907126

www.st-michaels-ce45.lancsngfl.ac.uk/index.php?category_id=48



Here's a newspaper article from a past school
www.prestontoday.net/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleID=1974706&SectionID=2166

The Teacher’s Pack
This website represents the teacher’s pack for visiting Samlesbury Hall or King Henry VIII visiting your school. Additional files are shown below. All are free to use for your studies but are not for re-sale as they are the property of Henry Tudor Drama Company.
A Tudor Crossword
Click here to download this file
The Crossword answers
Click here to download this file

All about colours
Click here to download this file

All about paper
Click here to download this file

Tudor Dance
Click here to download this file

Place names
Click here to download this file

Printing
Click here to download this file

A Samlesbury Hall Treasure Hunt
Click here to download this file

Tudor Village
Click here to download this file

Weaving explained
Click here to download this file

A working loom
Click here to download this file

Samlesbury Hall visit sheets
Click here to download this file

Treasure hunt
Click here to download this file

More to follow.

From a teacher who I used to teach when she was a young girl. Now she is a fine Primary Teacher in Standish, Lancashire and I am very proud to have been a little help to her.

Hello Ray,

I am just writing to personaly thank you for coming in and making the Tudor day so special and memorable for the children- they haven' t stopped talking about it yet. It was a great day and you were a very convincing Henry VIII. Thank you once again and I may be calling on you in the future. Good luck with the film. I hope you like the thank you letters from the children.
Abi



Hello Henry
Just wanted to say a big THANK YOU for a fantastic day last week. The children, staff and parents had a brilliant time and we thoroughly enjoyed all your stories - not enough laughing some days in school!
....And I've just read your column... printed off the relevant paragraph - that's going on the staff room wall - we'll be very proud of that.
Next Friday we've got a class assembly for the parents and are hoping to show the DVD, present lots of Henry fax that we learned from you and also build a character analysis of Henry - I think we may have changed our minds about him! He's a bit of a sweetie really!
Hope you had a good journey home in the Hampton Sport.
best wishes from us all at Buxworth.
Lesley Hartley
Head Teacher.
Reply from the big sweetie: It's days like this at Buxworth that keep me smiling all the time.


As you will see, King Henry VIII is no mere lookalike, he is an ex-teacher with a phenomenal knowledge of Tudor History and a serious actor who can portray King Henry VIII so well it's scary!


A new feature for you to consider: How would you like one of your existing portrait photographs to be cut up electronically and added into a King Henry VIII scene? Well just email it to Henry at HenryTudor@Blueyonder.co.uk, we will study its possibilities and say yes or nay to its outcome. The cost only £20 and the new original becomes yours.

Ray the actor , never over-charges for his services.
"After many years trying my best to bring originality to my school pupils, without great funding, has left me with the belief that I should be great value for money."
"I could work as a supply teacher in the UK and earn £180 per day without any hassle, but I want to be unique, to be wanted."

Ray

All this work for just a Half Penny.

Dear ... Henry!

Thank you so much for the web link to your fantastic site! It is so generous of you to share all your hard work. We will definitely be getting in touch to arrange a visit when next we *encounter* the Tudors. I have passed your details on to the teacher concerned.

Best wishes,

Viv Morris (Headteacher, Dame Tipping C. E. Primary School)

From the most discerning audience, a Student Teacher who uses the internet regularly.

I would just like to say, what a fantastic website you have! I am a mature student at UWIC doing a Primary education course and am specialising in History. I came across your site by luck I would say, and I am like a kid with a new toy! It is absolutely amazing!!!!!
I want to make everything at once but cannot at the moment as I haven't the time! when I qualify, I will certainly be using your site in my classroom. Well done!
At the moment my colleagues and I are creating a learning resource and we have chosen to do Henry V111 and his six wives. If it turns out ok I will forward you the finished results if you want it that is! Best wishes. B.G Your no. 1 fan. X
Beverley


After a fantastic visit to Samlesbury Hall with my family I discussed bringing a
School party to the hall……………..……………….The Hall is such a wonderful building and you really bring Tudor History alive. An experience for our pupils at the Hall will leave them with a life long experience full of superb memories.

Teacher from Blackpool


What a fantastic day we had at Samlesbury Hall today!
I came with my husband and mother-in-law and 5 children ages between 4yrs and 14yrs. Finding a day out that keeps all of them occupied is a nightmare, but you did it. They have all come away chatting about their favourite bits.

Your Santa was most definitely the best we've encountered, and has set the Christmas magic off to a good start. The ghost stories intrigued the older two, leaving them keen to spend the night in the priest's room! While Henry entertained us all.

I will be telling all my family and friends what an enjoyable day we had, and recommending yourself and your web-site to our school.

Thank you again for a lovely day, that we will most definitely be back to do again.

S. Gleeson


This is a copy of a letter sent to me by a Teacher from a Primary School in St. Helens. Her two classes all dressed up as Tudor courtiers and the whole day was Magic.

"Thank you for an extremely entertaining and educational visit to Samlesbury Hall last Wednesday. You made the day and I know from the children's responses since our visit that you brought the Tudors and Henry VIII to life. They would have stayed until it closed!
They are still talking and giggling about you and have a renewed interest in finding new facts. They visit your website daily to keep up to date. ................................
I have great pleasure in sending the children's thank you letters to you.
As a school, we plan to make the Children's Court an annual event when you are available. You are a very valuable resource."

What an excellent resource - how wonderful you are doing this and making
it all free! A special thing in a very commercial world!
It is a brilliant idea having a web site "written" by characters in
history! When we do the tudors we will ceertainly consider using your
services.
Thanks
Peter Williams
Headteacher
Head Teacher of Altham Primary school
Lancashire


You don't need me to tell you that children like these are the future success of this country and their Teacher's are only one step from Royalty.

All charges are primarily to fund the expense of clothing the King, travel and accommodation. The target of King Henry VIII is to break even each year and please a lot of people doing it!

Have King will travel!


Charges are as follows

1. Primary School Tudor Workshop:

This is how Henry Tudor Drama Company calculates the fee for a day in a school.

1. The day is from 08.45 am to 16.00 hours with a break in the morning and lunchtime.
2. The cost includes all activities for up to 40 children.
a. Meet the King
b. Make an Eagle Wing
c. Brass Rubbing
d. Quill making
e. Tudor Dance
f. The Children’s court of King Henry VIII
3. The King uses three costumes in the day. 50 assorted Tudor hats are loaned to the children.
4. A digital video camera is loaned for a member of staff to record the day.
5. The King meets the parents.
6. The King can address an assembly if required.



The fee depends upon where the school is situated, the company has gone to great expense to provide a means of transport to reduce this cost considerably when long distances are involved. The Kings accommodation and changing room are provided by the company.

The zone system takes account of the travel and accommodation thus allowing the company to be on site, fresh and ready for a full days work.
2008 costings:
Zone A: £230 per school day
Zone B: £280 per school day
Zone C: £350 per school day
Zone D: £400 per school day

These fees have been recalculated from the 2005/2007 level to include the horrendous diesel increase in cost of bringing the Court to your school. I will try to keep them at this level for as long as possible.

All based upon a single class sized group. Additional classes in the same group would need extra materials therefore a charge of £20 per 30 children is made in addition. Even though I have successfully managed a group of 100 for one day, I do believe it dilutes the effects and so large groups like this should really be over a two day period, the second day being cheaper, Zone A, as the travel is reduced.

By contacting neighbouring schools, a combined trip can be calculated thus dividing the travel costs and reducing the overall cost to each school.
Here is a chart with 2008 cost calculations


No wonder I'm 16 Stone with all these Tudor Biscuits.


2. Castle/Manor House tour-guides, talks and functions. Master of Ceremony. £200 per eventday Plus travelling and accommodation expenses (Henry uses his Mobile Palace RV which reduces costs considerably) especially if you have a space and electric hook up.

3. Photographic sessions at the rate of £200 per day. Plus travelling and accommodation expenses.


Things are coming to a head!