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Past Pleasures is recognised as providing the best Live Interpretation in the business. Our interpreters are second to none and are hand-picked by the company's directors, after which they undergo rigorous training in the many techniques of historical interpretation. These Include:

Character development through comprehensive, primary source research
Performance and improvisation skills
Public speaking and voice projection
Tour guiding
Storytelling
Costume wearing
Portrayal of status
Period deportment, etiquette and language

New interpreters learning from Creative Director, Kate Howard

Mark Wallis takes a keen interest in training interpreters

costume gallery

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We offer this training and recruitment service to clients who wish to hire and train new staff or develop the skills of existing ones in any of the above areas. Where we undertake non-costumed work, we do so under the auspices of Past Pleasures Heritage Theatre – our alternative registered company name. Over the last quarter century we have run our training programmes around the world, including:

Live costumed historical interpretation training for Professionals:

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, USA
Sovereign Hill Museums Association, Australia
Hungarian Museums Service, Hungary
National Trust, Wales
Shugborough Hall, National Trust & Local Authority
Dickens' World, Chatham Dockyard, Kent

Live costumed historical interpretation for Volunteers:

Hardwick Hall, National Trust

Non-costumed interpretation training:

The London Aquarium
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Historic Royal Palaces Storytelling

Bespoke training sessions to suit the needs of any site

New interpreters during the final stages of training