We set below the questions we are asked most oft;
Are you insured? Aye of course. Each of our members carries a £10m Public Liability Insurance. We also carry out a Risk Assessment (including Covid measures) for every event.
Does TCoMF charge for its re-enactments? Generally speaking yes, though we do keep our charges as low as possible and are happy to negotiate, We DO however perform for free to support charities and good causes. Our main aim is to educate, inform and entertain, and NOT to make great sums of money.
Do you perform in schools? In truth, we do, but we meet with teachers beforehand to ensure we deliver a tailored program of activities. We also deliver a “sensory event” for special needs schools. Many of our members are DBS checked.
Are there any places too small for you to visit? Indeed not. We have attended birthday parties in private homes and gardens as well as weddings.
Can you provide a Tudor Feast? Verily we hath done many of these including all foods and entertainment between “removes” including instructing diners on their Tudor table manners.
Do you always re-enact the same year? Nay for this would be most repetitious. We have “default years“, or we can re-enact a specific year, as our historian doth research a scenario relating to a location or specific happening before any event.
Do you always portray the same characters? Again. We have “default” characters, but are happy to portray specific characters such as members of the Cole family (Flatford), The Paycocke family (Paycocke House), and the Boleyn family (Hever Castle).
Do you need a building to perform in? Nay. Whilst we are happy to perform inside halls, museums, castles and even schoolrooms, we are equally happy in our own authentically styled tents and marquees.
Do you always stay in character? Always, and we also speak a form of Tudor language as this adds to this illusion we are trying to create. However we WILL break character or speech patterns if we cannot make ourselves understood (in the event we meet a person with special needs for example).
Are all the objects you display real? There would be no point in having things that are fake although (because of cost) most of our items are reproductions.
Are the items you use, safe for the public to handle? Mostly aye. Although some of the items need care when handling, (armour is heavy) knives and arrow points can be sharp, and our fires are real too.
Are the public allowed to eat the “Tudor” food that is cooked at events. Ofttimes we would discourage this (especially during the current climate), but we are insured for this and our cooks have been trained in food safety. However there is always the (slight) risk that our foods can be tainted by air-born contaminants. When we do provide food for public consumption (and to our knowledge we are the ONLY re-enacting group to do this), we always carry a list of allergens and which foods they are in. Visitors though are primarily responsible for their own health and safety and so must take responsibility for their decision to try or not to try our food.
Is the have-a-go-archery safe? Our Ned is an experienced archer being a member The Fraternity of Saint George whose roots date from 1509, and he takes every reasonable precaution against mishaps. The butts (archery range) is long enough and has a back-stop to prevent overshoot. The whole area is roped off with warning signs and Ned does one-to-one tuition before allowing anyone to shoot. Depending on circumstances he will also only allow visitors to shoot with “blunts”. Only childer of eight summers or above are allowed to shoot.
Can visitors dress in Tudor clothes when coming to your events? We welcome it but in truth, some venues ban visitors from wearing period clothes when visiting their site. To be sure you would be best advised to ask the venue.
Can anyone join The Companye? Providing they share our values, abide by our rules and we have vacancies then yes. We do ask that any prospective member undertake at least three events with us. In that time, we should know if they will fit in with us and they will learn enough about us to decide if they want to join.
Do Companye members have to attend all events? Although that would be most welcome it is not practical. We realise that people have lives and interests outside of TCoMF and so we only ask that each member commit to a minimum of two events per year.
Is there a membership fee? At present nay. We do currently ask our members to pay for their own insurance, provided through TCoMF. Both of these matters are reviewed annually by the members.
If I join, can I get help? We have a number of very knowledgeable members who can help and advise on clothes, speech manners, and historical context. So the answer is aye, there is help available.
Where do the period clothes and artefacts come from? Members either make or buy their own Tudor clothes and artefacts, though The Companye does own a large selection of period items.
Do you observe the different social stations? Absolutely! In Tudor times. Everyone “knew their place” and (in the main) accepted their station in life as they were what they were because God had willed it so. At re-enactments our commoners will always defer to their “betters” (the middle and gentry classes) and the middle and gentry class would acknowledge the commoners. In this way all peoples showed that they accepted God’s Will.
The Companye of Merrie Folke 