Evaluation Report Plen an : Gwari the Playing Places of Cornwall Project OH-­‐13-­‐05395 Contents 1. Executive Summary 2. What we said we would do 2.1 The Heritage 2.2 Approved Purposes of HLF grant: 2.3 Expected Difference 3. What actually happened 3.1 Management and Staffing 3.2 Steering Group 3.3 Planning and Timetable 3.4 Activities 3.4.1 Collate Evidence 3.4.2 Deliver workshops in partnership with rsity Falmouth Unive (x6) 3.4.3 Launch Events 3.4.4 Recruit olunteers V 3.4.5 Outdoor Exhibition 3.4.6 Archaeological Survey 3.4.7 Online Field Guide 3.4.8 Learning Materials 3.4.9 Teacher Training 3.4.10 Schools Programme 3.4.11 ‘Lost’ Site Visits 3.4.12 Activity Materials targeted at Family s Visitor 3.4.13 Final Events 4. Review 5. Summary of Lessons Learned Appendices: i) Steering Group Minutes ii) Publicity Materials iii) Commissioned Illustrations 1. Executive summary Plen an Gwari: the Playing Places of Cornwall has been a very successful HLF-­‐funded project. The medieval theatre tradition of Cornwall sly was previou almost unknown. As a result of this project a hugely increased constituency of people know about, are interested in and have engaged with this heritage. Real learning about heritage has occurred rom in groups f the youngest school pupils through secondary school and university students to the oldest adult volunteers. The two well-­‐known sites are now framed as part of a much wider and better-­‐understood phenomenon with more than 50 sites (probable and possible) being identified on the online field guide. The project has produced an online legacy, an attractive and accessible book, a permanent exhibition, a series of lectures and several proposals tudies, for further s activities and revivals. Many local groups have expressed a desire to take this work forward and explore their local heritage further. 2. What we said we would do: • Enlist expert and volunteer help locate, uncover and celebrate dozens of ‘lost’ plen an gwari sites across West Cornwall. • Work with university, schools and community lock’ groups to ‘un surviving medieval texts and re-­‐create the hidden treasures of our unique theatrical the heritage at two extant sites. • Create an on-­‐line field guide exploring and interpreting the 'lost' sites. • tour an outdoor exhibition to theatrical performances (separately funded) and community events at 24 of these sites • Tour an indoor exhibition around theatres and museums. • Produce a gorgeous, illustrated book pulling together contemporary accounts, academic thinking and interpretive images. • Significantly raise the awareness of and engagement s with thi previously under-­‐celebrated aspect of Cornish heritage. 2.1 The Heritage In Late Medieval and Early Tudor times, l West Cornwal was the centre of an extraordinary and vibrant theatre culture, as rich as anywhere in -­‐ Europe. Two well known examples of plen an gwari (amphitheatres) survive at St Just and Perranporth. The remains at these two sites are earthworks forming a circular bank around a central space. Falmouth University students at Perran Round Preliminary research (from volunteer and community sources) suggests that partial remains and outline evidence of plenys an gwari may be found at over forty almost tes. entirely unknown si Some of these sites have been built upon or ploughed-­‐over, most are disregarded by the local community who are unaware of their existence. ‘The Ordinalia’: the earliest surviving playscript in Britain (photo taken in the Bodleian Library) The handful of surviving scripts in the Cornish language (including the recently unearthed Bewnans /’ Ke Life of St Ke') complement the various contemporary g accounts (e Carew, Scawen) to help us build a picture of the outdoor, festive, theatrical events that once took place across West Cornwall. An aspiration of the forthcoming Kresen ernow K project is to see the loan of these important medieval nwall documents back to Cor in the near future. The growth of Falmouth University has rekindled a great deal of interest in the history and the site of Glasney College, Penryn where, evidence suggests, many of the plays were written. Although once dismissed as oddities, the Cornish medieval dramas are attracting om new attention fr academics, some even suggesting that they should be 'given their rightful place as being the most important element in the history of medieval European (and in particular British) drama' (Higgins, University of Camerino, 2013) Later, through th the 18 and 19th centuries, the plen an gwari spaces were used for wrestling matches, rock-­‐ drilling competitions, Methodist tea treats nner and all ma of community celebrations. In several s location these later uses continued right up into times within or just beyond living memory, thus, important fragments of oral history heritage remain to be collected. 2.2 Approved Purposes of HLF grant: • To recruit freelance delivery roles • To collate historical textual and pictorial information • To commission 12 historical, interpretive illustrations • To recruit and train 12 volunteers and 5 interns • To deliver 6 workshops in partnership with Falmouth University • To produce outdoor touring exhibition • To publicise and produce 2 public launch events • To facilitate and resource site-­‐visit programme and outdoor across exhibition 24 lost sites • To design, deliver and evaluate a KS@ and KS3 educational hools programme for 24 sc with 24 teachers and 500 pupils • To promote educational materials to a wider audience; , minimum of 50 schools 50 teachers and 1,500 pupils • To deliver 4 CPD sessions for 48 teachers • To produce interpretive activity materials targeted at family visitors for plen sites • To produce 2 public events for 24 schools, 500 pupils, 24 teachers and 300 parents/family members • To produce, publish and launch an illustrated book • To deliver and install outdoor and indoor exhibition 2.3 Expected Difference This project intended to make a difference to heritage; -­‐ an interactive on line field guide to ‘lost’ plen an gwari sites across Cornwall would mean that heritage was identified and recorded. A programme of interpretive 'lost' site events (curated by young people) and a sumptuous and -­‐ beautifully illustrated book exploring the varied use and social significance of the plen an gwari through history, providing comprehensive, accurate information but thoroughly accessible to a very wide audience would help heritage to be better interpreted lained. and exp School pupils enacting medieval drama at Perran Round The project intended to make a difference to people: through the educational program, an exhibition, enjoyable experiences and provide opportunities to volunteer. A KS2 and a KS3 educational programme, with a legacy of supporting educational resources along with celebratory events at the existing plen sites recreating key aspects of the medieval experience would help people learn about the heritage. An exhibition touring with he t Planet Kernow Embassy and on long term display would also help people learn about heritage. Project events; launch events with Falmouth University students sharing the outcomes of their study and interpretive activity materials targeted at family visitors, along with celebratory events that showed the outputs of the work c with s hools would provide an enjoyable and experience inspirational for people. Volunteers learning about geophysical surveying at St Hilary A steering committee of stakeholders across a range of sectors and a network of volunteers to research lost sites and five internships to assist in five areas of the project; i) learning ii) events iii) v) exhibitions i marketing v) digital outputs, all gave people an opportunity to volunteer their time and improve their skills and understanding. 4. What actually happened 3.1 Management and Staffing Golden Tree recruited an able Project Manager who successfully irst oversaw the f half of the project’s life span, but then moved on to take on other career opportunities. essary It then became nec to re-­‐recruit. The tasks comprising the Project Manager role were tween then shared be two individuals (one of whom had previously been an intern with the project and one who had previously been a volunteer – a very pleasing piece of professional development). Given this change of e management structur at the -­‐ mid point of the project, he t company was delighted that the transition was accomplished smoothly and then no significant slippage of delivery occurred. The interns were utilised in very diverse ways and proved immensely helpful (and also reported gaining a great deal from the experience). Training day at Perran Round The volunteer network was far greater than our initial target and as well as contributing to the delivery outputs also helped create a real buzz about the ross subject matter ac Cornwall. 3.2 Steering Group The Steering Group was a very helpful way to engage a keholders very wide constituency of sta and meant that the project received very good quality dance steerage and gui (both from those able to attend and those contributing remotely) A wide range of people from academic research, drama and theatre, ge schools, herita and voluntary and public sectors were invited to attend steering group meetings. The minutes of all meetings were distributed among everyone invited and some people made contributions unteered and vol information and support even if they did not attend meetings. The invitations and minutes went out to 42 people across Cornwall and Britain and, Italy, America and Australia as well. 6 meetings of the steering group took place, ng and at every meeti the project director provided an update of work, outlined upcoming work and looked nd for support a advice from attendees. As a result ng of the steeri group meetings, Jackie Nowakowski of Cornwall’s Historic Environment provided advice on the extent of recorded knowledge, archaeological activities were decided on, and MAGA provided translations into Cornish and requested reference to their Cornish language drama resource pack in the project learning materials.