Heritage
Having worked in heritage for over a decade, Lauren has explored many methods of public engagement, education and interpretation.
She has directed and performed in live costumed interpretation events; created character-led education sessions for heritage sites and facilitated school workshops; researched and written award-winning digital missions for families; made site-responsive theatre for adults; chaired and participated in historical debates, both live and as a podcast…
What these all have in common is compelling storytelling and well-researched history.
Lauren is particularly concerned to restore marginalised figures to the wider historical narrative.
Some examples of her work:
- Co-founded History Riot, a new collective creating innovative and inclusive live events and performances online and at heritage sites across the country.
- Co-founded Untold Arts, a theatre company specialising in ‘untold’ stories from history and the modern day with BAME casting parity
- Wrote, researched and directed Punish or Pardon, a live interpretation event about women prisoners of Henry VIII (Past Pleasures Ltd at the Tower of London, vars dates, 2013-5)
- Researched and wrote award-winning digital missions for Historic Royal Palaces, focusing on stories related to women and the Tower of London.
- Wrote and directed the all-female live interpretation event, The Lion’s Pride (Past Pleasures Ltd, at Dover Castle, vars dates, 2015-8)
Among the organisations that Lauren has worked with are:
- Historic Royal Palaces
- English Heritage
- Cadw, Wales
- University of California, USA
- Charles Dickens Museum, London
- Wellcome Library, London
- Colonial Williamsburg, USA
- Dante or Die
- Ellipsis Entertainment
- Rusty Quill
Testimonials
Engagement Workshop, PhD students:
Such an excellent job facilitating and leading! It's been invaluable to work with you on this.
Elma Bremner, Wellcome Library
Historical consultancy for heritage theatre R&D project:
Thank you for a great conversation. The team were very impressed by your extensive knowledge. You've given them a tonne to think about.
Zinta Jaunitis, Creative Producer
Researching & writing digital missions for families at the Tower of London:
What a gem Lauren was to work with on the digital missions! She brought huge amounts of knowledge, a trove of ideas and, best of all, lots of enthusiasm. We'd happily have her in to work with us time and time again.
Katherine Bigg, Multichannel Producer
Chairing the talk, Anne Boleyn: Her Life in the Shadow of the Tower, for Historic Royal Palaces:
Thank you for chairing our event with poise, knowledge, and humour. We’d be delighted to work with Lauren again in the future.’
Susie Thornberry, Learning Producer for the Events & Partnerships Team, Historic Royal Palaces
An amazing night at the Tower... and a terrific MC!
Lauren MacKay, author of Inside the Tudor Court.
Splendid chairing!
Dr Suzannah Lipscomb
History & Storytelling workshop at Abbeywood School, Bristol:
It was a great opportunity and Lauren was a fantastic teacher. Lauren helped us develop stories rooted in historical fact and helped everyone. It was an amazing day and I hope we get to experience something like it again.
Students at Abbeywood.
What a fantastic experience for our year 9 students, who spent the day combining their love of history with a passion for drama and creative writing. It was inspiring to see them draw on new and previous knowledge to create new ideas. Lauren was brilliant with our students and we would thoroughly recommend the workshop to other schools.
Laura Storey, teacher at Abbeywood.
Get in touch.