Your summer fix of Wright History - now open for booking!

We hope that you’ve all been enjoying the first few weeks of term as much as we have!

Over the last few terms, many of you have asked us for more things outwith a Eurocentric focus, and we thought that summer might be a good time to have a non-Eurocentric strand.*

*[Hmm… Not the snappiest of terms. Note to self: Must spend more time thinking about marketing. In the meantime, however…]

As promised a few weeks ago, voila details of our now-available courses, to help you fill the long hours of summer between traditional terms…

First up, we thought that a geographically wide-ranging weekly fix of archaeological fabulousness might be a good way to while away seven of summer’s Wednesday evenings. Fancy an armchair tour of roads less-travelled (by Eurocentric courses, that is)? Possibly even with the odd cheeky glass of one’s sundowner* of choice? Well look no further!

*[Alas, we are not currently able to provide said sundowners. But hmmm… tea/gin/wine tastings, tailored to a course… Taste-alonga-Wright-History… There’s a thought…. Anyway…]

Ladies and gentlemen, I present unto you Great Archaeological Discoveries. We think you’ll like it, and hope that you agree.

Next up, we have two new offerings in our Short & Sweet Saturdays strand - each of which is in direct response to Denizens’ requests.

First, we’re delighted to announce The Middle Country: 10th- to 14th-century China. This picks up on themes which you’ve told us you’ve especially enjoyed in recent courses dealing with things Oriental, and we’re sure that it will scratch the Oriental itch. Plus there’ll be some gorgeous images.

For September’s Short & Sweet Saturdays,* we offer you Alexander the Great.

*[OK. I’m getting carried away with the alliteration here. Sorry-not-sorry…]

I’m sure he needs no further introduction (what with his Greatness being evident in his very name and all…), but if you’re missing your fix of things Hellenistic, this will hopefully assuage your cravings until autumn’s full course on The Hellenistic Age.*

*[Sorry… What’s that you say…? Why yes - I am indeed being shameless. Watch this space in due course for the release of our autumn schedule…]

So. That’s our summer of far-flung offerings. Alas we can’t get away for a holiday this summer, so we’re very much looking forward to some virtual travels. We hope that you’ll want to join us on our virtual tour. We do, however, know that whether one is travelling or not, summer evenings can offer multiple diversions (and of course hurrah for that!). We shall, therefore, be recording all sessions of these three courses, so you will be able to catch up at your convenience should you wish.

Why, that handsome shepherd looks familiar. So does the Grumpy Star of Bethlehem…

Additionally, I am delighted to report that we now have dates for a resurrection (see what I did there…?) of The York Mystery Plays: History, culture, and performance. Alas, due to circumstances beyond our control* we were not able to run it as originally planned this month, but here we are now - set to ride again!

*[I know. It’s a cliché. But some clichés are clichés because they do actually happen!]

Some very good friends, with whom Robert and I have worked and performed for many years as Ars Ludendi (including at our wedding!), have kindly agreed to run a four-week course under the Wright History banner. That they are good friends is, however, less relevant here than the fact that they really know their stuff and convey it exceptionally well. Between them, our fellow Ars Ludendi members have what I think must be a uniquely rounded familiarity with and understanding of the plays - informed, variously, by academic research, extensive involvement over many years in performance of the plays, and having directed the whole pageant in recent years.*

*[If you’ve seen the waggon plays, you can probably just about begin to imagine how epic a task the latter is!]

Dr Mike Tyler and Paul Toy are doing the heavy lifting in terms of content, and each session is illustrated by readings by Ars Ludendi (including ‘Imself et moi - feel free to mock our “acting”!) from contemporary documents and from the drama itself.

All of Ars Ludendi, other than the Wrightington Towers contingent, are currently in the full throes of preparation and rehearsals for this summer’s pageant (see here for further detail of June’s extravaganza), and we’re delighted to be able to snaffle our friends’ expertise and offer it unto you - which will now include added hot-off-the-press intel on the fun and games of this year’s pageant! Regardless of whether you’re especially interested in York or the plays specifically, however, this course offers a fascinating case-study of the relationship between culture and community, which we think will be of interest to many of you.

Finally, a quick reminder that it’s not too late to book for either Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, which will take us through the next seven Wednesdays, or June’s Short & Sweet Saturdays course on Hadrian’s Wall.

Phew - the newness just keeps on coming, doesn’t it?! We hope that you’re as excited about these courses as we are. Right now, it’s time for supper at Wrightington Towers and, perhaps, a glass of something chilled…

To see all our courses now available in calendar order, click here. Alternatively, click on the relevant course title[s] in this post to go directly to the relevant page[s].