A Book of Portraits - Warwick Pageant Celebrations 2026

The Warwick Pageant Celebrations 2026

On July 5th 2026 A Book of Portraits delivered a participatory music and theatre event to celebrate the 120th anniversary of The Warwick Pageant.

This free, family-friendly event in the heart of the town featured live music, participatory theatre, and craft activities. We honoured the heroes and stories of Warwick while paying homage to the creativity of those that brought together the pageants of yesteryear.

The Warwick Pageant of 1906

The Warwick Pageant of 1906 was a grand community folk play that engaged 2,000 members of the local populace. The first of its kind in Warwick, the event consisted of 11 theatrical episodes depicting stories from Warwick’s history. The event consisted of a week of performances delivered by the community to an audience of over 40,000 people.

Our event saw the reimagining of 5 of those original episodes in a free, community-centred celebration - a day of short participatory theatrical performances that engaged over 300 people in Pageant Garden, Warwick. The project successfully brought together archival material with modern artistic practice by recreating original music, choreographing traditional participatory dances, and producing bespoke contemporary folk costumes based on original film footage.

Each performance was concluded with the singing of an original song by Peter Bell. The song utilised an historic poem that had been written about the 1906 pageant by James Rhodes. The poem's words beautifully depict the sentiment of The Warwick Pageant.

'Not the high deeds and legendary state that erst made Warwick great;

But Rather that all life beneath the sun is in all ages one,

And the deep sense that of each moving scene ourselves a part have been,’

The event's secondary intention was to gage people’s interest in potentially making the celebration a more regular event, moving towards a more co-creational model involving members of the public earlier in the process. The crafting activity in the Court House Ballroom gave people the opportunity to draw and design what they would like to see in a future pageant.

Thank you to everybody who shared their thoughts and took part in the Warwick Pageant Celebrations 2026!

Participants' Response

‘The Book of Portraits team are really wonderful. It is lovely to see them bringing back traditions and folk stories in a quirky and inclusive way that is fun for all ages. I think more British traditions should be given this kind of new life!’

‘We had such a memorable day and would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone involved in creating such a fantastic, family-friendly event. Making the pageant free and accessible to the community was especially appreciated. The concept was executed beautifully, and it felt like a real honour and privilege to attend and take part. The performers were authentic, warm and welcoming, which made participation feel easy and enjoyable. The music was wonderfully catchy and has stayed with us.’

Participants described the event as:

Fun, Lively, Inclusive

Engaging, Colourful, Enjoyable

Excellent, Professional, Educational

Magical, Inspiring, Entertaining

Joyful, Wholesome, Pride-inspiring

Reimaging The Warwick Pageant

Preparations initially began by developing a strong understanding of the original pageant. We obtained access to original music written by Allen K Blackall; film and imagery documenting its visual aspects as well as a copy of the theatrical script. The original Warwick Pageant consisted of 11 episodes depicting mythical and historical events from Warwick’s past. We selected five of them to feature in our 2026 event. They were presented in the proposed chronological order of the original pageant.

Selected Episodes

Episode II: The Bear and the Ragged Staff A.D. 500

Episode III: Ethelfleda A.D. 906

Episode IV: Guy of Warwick A.D. 920

Episode IX: The Nine Days Queen A.D. 1553

Episode X: Elizabeth I A.D. 1572

Episode 1: The Bear and the Ragged Staff

Ethelfleda: The date is 500 A.D and the great Saxon Warrior Gwar has returned from battling his foes.

Everyone cheer for Gwar retuning to Warwick after defeating the Picts and the Scots.

A trumpet announcement.

Ethelfleda: Meanwhile in the forest near by, Movid legendary Earl of Warwick, is battling a great giant.

Enter Morvid legendary Earl of Warwick and Giant.

Trumpet and Battle Music

Ethelfleda: He battles with the fearsome giant.

Crowd: Morvid, Morvid, Morvid!

Ethelfleda: The giant is slain and he drops his staff.

Gwar steps forward

Gwar: Morvid, my friend what do you have there?

Morvid: This ragged staff. It was dropped by the giant I have just killed

Arthal enters with the bear.

Ethelfleda: Arthal, another legendary Earl of Warwick, appears after wrestling a bear in the woods.

Arthal: I have captured this bear for you great Gwar.

Ethelfleda: The bear, tired from wrestling with Arthal, leans on the ragged staff to rest.

Gwar: This bear and the ragged staff shall now be the symbol of Warwick.

Morvid: Let all who see it fear Warwick’s fist.

Arthal: I feel tired now after wrestling that bear.

Ethelfleda: And so tired from their battling, Morvid suggested they visit a nearby magic well, where if they would plunge, they would become brand new men. So off to ‘Leamington’ they went for a bath.

They enter with shower caps and a rubber duck. Triumph music.

Script by A Book of Portraits

Episode 3: Guy of Warwick

Jester:

What hoof-beat of thunder,
What horns wide asunder.
Ah, terror past taming,
The Dun Cow gigantic now strikes the folks frantic,
And harries the land!
The Dun Cow is coming beware.

Garland Girl: It’s A.D 920 and Warwickshire is being terrorised by the huge monstrous Dun Cow of Dunsmore Heath. A wild cruel beast of pre-historic dimensions. This gigantic creature has been eating children and contributing considerably to global warming.

The people direct their concerns to Rohant the current Earl of Warwick.

Jester: Help us Rohant we can’t go on like this.

Rohant: If only brave Guy was here, he would slay the beast. He is our guy.

Guy instrumental plays.

Garland Girl: But Guy was not here, he had gone on many quests to try and win the heart of his love Felice.

Phyllis: I was too proud to see how great Guy was… and now he’s gone.

Guy: Phyllis I am back and look of all the things I have slain for you.

Slay placard.

Garland Girl: Guy had been very busy slaying, A dragon! A Danish giant, and his 120 gallons of porridge. Yum.

Phyllis: I’m not impressed. You have done what any hero does. I’m sure you can slay one cow more.

Garland Girl: Guy laughs…flashback to earlier that day.

Guy slays the cow.