If you want to taste, smell, hear and feel what life was like in the Victorian era, you won’t come much closer than visiting SS Great Britain. Once ‘the world’s first great ocean liner’, the now family attraction – which sailed around the world 32 times, travelling more than 1,000,000 miles at sea – is beloved by locals and tourists alike.
An almost time portal to the 1800s, permanently anchored by Harbourside, Brunel’s SS Great Britain is one of the best museums in Bristol. In its day, however, it was a popular choice for people from all walks of life who wanted to emigrate to the other side of the world. Their stories will be brought to life this May half-term (May 25 – June 2).
In a first-of-its-kind performance, visitors to Brunel’s SS Great Britain will be treated to these passenger stories – brought to life by students from Bristol Institute of Performing Arts (BIPA). Passenger Takeover will depict many historical figures (including merchants, farmers, botanists and scoundrels) who once travelled onboard.
To create the Passenger Takeover experience, 20 students from BIPA worked with the SS Great Britain Trust and Bristol Improv Theatre. The students learnt specialist improv skills and developed characters inspired by real individuals who travelled on the SS Great Britain. They’ll perform throughout the day, every day, in the ship and dockyard.
“The students have been so creative in their approach, and the in-situ performances around the ship during the half-term holidays will add another dimension to the sounds, sights, and smells the SS Great Britain is known for,” said Simon Strain, Head of Living History at Brunel’s SS Great Britain. “With costumes sourced from Bristol Costume Services… the attention to detail and level of authentic storytelling makes this May half term very special.”
Passenger Takeover is part of the SS Great Britain Trust’s Fully Dressed Project, which is developing new approaches to authentic costumed interpretation. On top of seeing BIPA students climbing aboard, visitors to SS Great Britain will be able to catch all the usual living exhibits. Plus, learn more about the ship’s creator in the Being Brunel Museum. You can learn more about all the characters here.