Past Pleasures Ltd is the country’s oldest professional costumed historical interpretation company, providing an unrivalled 'one-stop-shop' for the heritage sector.
Founded in 1987, we hold Europe's largest contract for daily live interpretation for Historic Royal Palaces.
Interpreting history is the core of what we do - devising and producing bespoke historical events, large and small, covering 2,000 years of history in the form of site-specific scenarios and dramatic re-enactments, for corporate clients and sites wishing to expand their repertoire.
Our award-winning education department works with schools, heritage sites and museums to deliver historical education sessions taught by costumed interpreters in first or third person.
Past Pleasures are consultants in our field for national and international sites and institutions, as well as for TV, stage and screen, providing historical entertainers, actors, musicians, falconers, jousters and speakers.
Past Pleasures researches, designs and creates museum-quality period clothing and accessories, from any period and for any character.
We both recruit and train interpreters for clients, using our experience in the field of historical costumed interpretation to tailor a working development programme to suit any site. Where we undertake non-costumed work, we do so under the auspices of Past Pleasures Heritage Theatre – our alternative registered company name.
Our historical performers work at the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace, for Historic Royal Palaces, and can be found regularly at such sites as Dover Castle and Audley End House, managed by English Heritage.
"What a wonderful night. You and your colleagues were fantastic. Who could know learning about the past could be so much fun? Thank you so much for creating such a wonderful event"
Susan McCormack
Director of Public Engagement Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology University of Oxford
"Thank you and your teams for taking part in 'The Night Before The Somme' and making it a success for our audiences - I am so proud of you and your fabulous team for using their skills with respect and empathy towards the Somme stories and within the IWM brand & physical constraints."
Gina Koutsika Head of National & International Learning & Engagement, Imperial War Museum London
“[When Charles I] delivered his execution speech to the students they were stunned into silence! the Stuarts visit at Banqueting House changed the way I teach the subject.”
"[Past Pleasures] are always creative and highly professional. Their work speaks for itself, the performance they wrote and performed for our opening event was informative, fun and engaged on many different levels. " Islington Council, 2019
"English Heritage has worked with Past Pleasures for almost 20 years and over that time they have provided us with an outstanding quality of work..."
