This amateur film by members of the Newcastle Amateur Cinematographers Association (ACA) records daily episode highlights of an historical pageant of Newcastle and the North that takes place on common land in Leazes Park, Newcastle, between 20 - 25 July 1931. The event was organised by Edward Baring with pageant direction by Lionel Lightfoot. The pageant involved the re-enactment of nearly 2,000 years of history, with 6,000 performers in full period dress, a chorus of 500, and an orchestra of...

This amateur film by members of the Newcastle Amateur Cinematographers Association (ACA) records daily episode highlights of an historical pageant of Newcastle and the North that takes place on common land in Leazes Park, Newcastle, between 20 - 25 July 1931. The event was organised by Edward Baring with pageant direction by Lionel Lightfoot. The pageant involved the re-enactment of nearly 2,000 years of history, with 6,000 performers in full period dress, a chorus of 500, and an orchestra of 100. A covered auditorium housed 4,000 spectators. Many of the costumes were designed by Theo Maling. Title: The Historical Pageant of Newcastle and the North 1931 Crowds arrive at Leazes Park to watch the pageant. An opening speech is made to a large audience in a stand. This may have been the first day of the event, Monday 20 July, also Civic Day, which was opened by The Lord Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne, Alderman David Adams. Title: The Historical Pageant of Newcastle and the North. Leazes Park, Newcastle on Tyne. July 20 – 25 1931. Scenes from the Eight Episodes Title: The Entry of “Puck” Followed by Children The first scenes of the pageant introduce the mystical element. A light-footed actor dances around open grassland in the character of Puck, a trickster or mischievous sprite in English mythology, also known as Robin Goodfellow in William Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream. His performance is watched by spectators surrounding the field. Title: Behind the Scenes As visitors to Leazes Park stroll around the floral gardens, large numbers of children await their entrance into the pageant dressed in fairy-like costumes, instructed by a woman in long eighteenth century dress. They begin to get in formation for their performance. Title: The “Spirit of the Borderland” Awaiting His Cue An actor in medieval armour and chain mail takes a break with a cigarette, resting on the seat of a parked truck, and grinning to camera as he smokes. Back at the pageant, Puck continues to perform his sprite dance. The elfin children make their entrance en masse, running and prancing on the field. Puck performs an expressive dance, whilst the mass of children stand in the background. The actor playing "The Spirit of the Border" puts on his helmet. Puck holds a scarf in the air, whilst the camera pans across the legions of children standing in formation, their costumes blowing in the wind. The "Spirit of the Border" actor makes his entrance on horseback, the children saluting with raised arms. He makes a rallying speech to the children. Title: Episode 1 Queen Amelduna and Emperor Hadrian A.D. 122 Queen Amelduna (a fictitious Queen of the Ottadeni) speaks rousingly whilst the "Spirit of the Border" horseman waits in the background. The Queen bids farewell to the horseman as he rides off. A crowning by maids dressed in white robes and headdress is in progress. Next, back to the Queen Amelduna actress. The Sixth Legion of Roman soldiers march into the arena led by Emperor Hadrian, the legion including one horse-drawn chariot. Emperor Hadrian is hailed by the queen. The emperor commands the building of the Roman bridge.at Newcastle. Various scenes follow of Queen Amelduna with ranks of Roman soldiers. Title: Episode 2. St Cuthbert's Body Brought to Durham A.D. 995 Two hefty oxen pull a cart carrying St. Cuthbert's body, followed by a procession of nuns. Title: Episode 3. Edward I and Bishop Bek A.D.1296 A town's citizens go about their business. Four men rush into the scene. Edward I arrives, his servant holding his horse, and takes a seat on a throne. Various women stand beside him on the raised stage holding the throne. Title: Episode 4. Queen Philippa and Battle of Neville's Cross. A.D. 1346 Queen Philippa, wife of Edward II, encourages her troops to fight against the Scottish king at Neville's Cross, to the west of Durham, and they head off to battle. Title: Episode 5. Marriage of Princess Margaret to James IV A.D. 1503 An impatient James IV takes the hand of a young English Princess Margaret, escorted by lords and ladies of the North to the borderlands betwen England and Scotland north of Berwick-on-Tweed.  The Archbishop of Glasgow kisses her hand. She curtsies. James and Margaret are married and a feast and dancing take place with festivities enjoyed by the chief lords and ladies of her new court. Title: Episode 6. Mary Queen of Scots in Cumberland. A.D. 1568 Mary Queen of Scots rides in, accompanied by an escort of four gentry. This is possibly a scene recording the arrival of the queen at Carlisle Castle, Cumberland. She is greeted by a man in distinguished clothing, probably an actor playing Richard Lowther, the sheriff of Cumberland, who briefly is her guardian at the castle. Whilst seated on a throne, she reads a letter, and angrily tears it up. She rifles through a trunk of shabby clothes, sent by her sister Queen Elizabeth's Master of Robes. She then walks away resignedly, followed by her loyal friends. The scene plays out the beginning of her incarceration. Title: Episode 7. Lord Derwentwater and Dorothy Forster. A.D. 1715 Various scenes of the hay making season in Northumberland, people making merry with tankards of drink. The scenes probably represent the beginning of the attempt to get support for the doomed English Jacobite Rebellion, led by the Catholic Lord Derwentwater, who is in love with Dorothy Forster, a niece by marriage of Lord Crewe, Bishop of Durham, and belonging to a strictly Protestant house. The final scene appears to be a sad procession, perhaps a funeral for Lord Derwentwater. Title: Episode 8. Eighteenth Century Fair at Newcastle. The actors perform as eighteenth century citizens at a fair on the Town Moor, rich and poor, rustics and nobility. Men and women dance in a ring and generally have fun. Women in bonnets (and a runaway couple on their way to Coldstream before an accident with their vehicle) watch a blacksmith at work on an anvil. A boy performs a Northumbrian jig. Two wealthy gentlemen in fine clothes walk by. A flock of geese are herded by country folk. Large groups of women enjoy themselves at the fair. Two "ladies" walk by in fine clothes. A village drunkard sits in the stocks arousing the curiosity of children, and taunted by some. Crowds mill around at the fair. The blacksmith packs up to leave. Two men in helmets greet a "gent" in fine clothes, who then sweeps his hat in an exaggerated farewell to camera. A woman curtsies to camera. Horsemen ride by quickly. To close the pageant, the “Spirit of the Borderland” horseman rides into the parkland arena, leading the mass of dancing child sprites. A large audience looks on. Title: The End