Life's Rich Pageant - Birmingham History Theatre Company

Life’s Rich Pageant

This play was centred around the Birmingham Pageant of 1938 which was itself a massive undertaking involving thousands of people from all parts of Birmingham. It was held in the grounds of Aston hall and was led by the amazing, famous Pageant Master, Gwen Lally.

One of the more astonishing features of this event was the appearance of three huge dinosaurs which, anachronistically, breathed fire! Some short film clips of the original Pageant were included in the play, together with some additional clips which we produced ourselves.

Our play showed the involvement of local people from very different backgrounds as well a behind-the-scenes look at the production and a brief visit from Sidney, the smallest of the dinosaurs.

View The Life’s Rich Pageant Photo Gallery Here

Reviews

I knew nothing about the huge and elaborate pageant put on by the City in 1938 before going to this play, but came out much the wiser and greatly entertained!. An inventive, excellently devised show which managed to contain a little of everything: follies of the Councillors, as well as follies of youth and human vanity;
contemporary and “vintage” newsreels with splendid, live piano accompaniment; a fire breathing prehistoric monster; rousing songs, rivalries, pathos, much enthusiasm and good humour!. It was tremendous live entertainment of the kind you hardly ever see any more.

published in the Balsall Heathan