Schoolchildren from around Cambridge will be taking audiences on a whirlwind tour of 800 years of University history in a fast-paced new play this autumn.

To mark the University’s 800th anniversary this year, almost 100 children from different schools will be taking part in an ambitious (not to mention breathless) production which packs eight centuries of history into the space of a single hour.

The specially-commissioned play, called 0-800 in 60 minutes, will be performed on November 21st at the ADC Theatre in Cambridge. Tickets are on sale from the Theatre Box Office now. The play is being performed entirely by children, many of whom will be treading the boards for the first time.

Anyone expecting a traditional rendition of the University’s story, from its murky origins in the 13th century through to the present day, had better think again, however. The new version starts before the dawn of time, pauses to bemoan the prehistoric shortage of public toilets on Parker’s Piece, then whips through the entire story, covering “Eight hundred years of English history, from Robin Hood to Gordon Brown”.

On the way there are songs, stunts and an embarrassment of historical celebrities, which together add up to the Cambridge story as it’s never been told before.

Even the murder in Oxford which originally forced scholars to flee the city and found Cambridge having been blamed for its death is subjected to irreverent treatment as it comes under investigation from Inspector Morse.

Elsewhere, a four-foot high Oliver Cromwell is seen doing his best to menace some dissenting monarchists, the Chariots of Fire race round Trinity College’s Great Court is recreated (in slow motion) and Samuel Pepys begins his diary – perhaps less than authentically, with “Dear Diary: I came up to Magdalene College today and learned my first lesson – that the College is pronounced ‘Maudlin’, which I am most of the time”.

Newton, Milton, Erasmus, Henry VIII, John Cleese and Byron are among the other famous names who make up the stellar cast. Even Watson and Crick’s famous celebratory pint at The Eagle pub following their discovery of the double helix structure of DNA gets a retelling, with Watson commenting on what hard work it was, only for Crick to respond that it was “elementary, my dear Watson”.

The play has been written specially for the University by Mike Levy and is being directed by Lesley Ford. Altogether, nine different schools are taking part, most of them from years six and eight (ages 10 to 13).

“The younger children all belong to primary schools which feed into the secondary schools involved,” Ford explained. “The idea is that when the children move to their new school, there will be some bigger children they already know.”

Each of the six scenes has been given to a different group of children, giving them the chance to learn about a section of the past before doing their best to recreate some of its most momentous events on stage.

Alexandra O’Connor, a teacher at the Grove Primary School in King’s Hedges, which is taking part, said the play had helped children at the school to develop a more personal understanding of the remarkable history of their local area.

“In the past, the university has seemed a bit distant and not really relevant to their lives, but now they’re beginning to see it differently,” she said. “They’ve been really enthusiastic right from the start – they’ve attended every session, they’ve been practising their lines at home and they’re really keen. It’s even prompted them to ask if we can start a drama club back at the school.”

0-800 In 60 Minutes will be performed at 12noon and 3pm at the ADC Theatre, Park Street, Cambridge, on November 21st. For tickets, call the Theatre’s box office now on 01223 300085, or visit the website, www.adctheatre.com
 


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