Living History

This week Alena and Stephen tackle the stuff of Living History, and talk about how much the little things can really add both for your own enjoyment and for the publics’ edification. We talked about:
• Steps toward historical accuracy
• pocket stuff and personal items
• Comfort items and furniture
• Tools, weapons, leisure and religious items.

Musical Interlude: Hey Ho to the Greenwood sung by Ravenrook Consort

Download: Minutiae
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This week Stephen and Alena were joined by Amanda Sullivan to talk about cooking in a Living History setting. We talked about:
• Food as a metaconcept and our modern relationship with food
• Cooking on an open fire, in a hearth, or in a wood-fired oven.
• Fire Safety
• adding cooking to your activities
• teaching cooking
• working with period recipes and ingredients
Musical Interlude: Grimstock & Sellenger His Rounde performed by Diabolus In Musica, off the Skirmish Presents: All in Tune with History CD
Download:Historical Cooking
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Interview with Kass McGann

Episode Summary

This week Alena talked to Kass McGann, owner of Reconstructing History, a company developing historical clothing  patterns for both men and women from a myriad of historical time periods. They talked about:
• How Kass found fashion and history
• turning a hobby into a business
• attending living history events as a merchant
Musical Interlude: Spanish Pavan Performed by Hautbois

Download:Interview with Kass MaGann

Norah Kyle as Mistress Greyndour at the Connecticut Renaissance Faire

This week Alena talks to Norah Kyle, a professional living historian. We talk about:
• Her first museum job at Higgins Armory Museum
• Learning the living history ropes at Old Sturbridge Village
• Becoming a cast member at the Connecticut Renaissance Faire
• Starting her own business, the Merry Little Lamb
• Working for the Histrionic Academy
• Becoming a pilgrim at Plimoth Plantation.
• Living in a historic house and working for the Braintree Historical Society.
• American Girl dolls, graduate school, the place of living history and much more!

Musical Interlude: Carrikfergus Sung by the 2004 cast of the Connecticut Renaissance Faire

Download:Interview with Norah Kyle
Listen here