Enjoy a Comedy Night at the Verulamium Museum!

A spectacular comedy night is to be staged against a backdrop of 2,000-year-old mosaics, coffins and other relics at St Albans’ Verulamium Museum.

Archaeologist-turned-comedian Paul Duncan McGarrity will host the one-off event in the dramatic setting of the City’s Roman showcase. It is being held to coincide with the national Museums at Night festival that is intended to “shine a light on Britain’s sparkling culture and heritage”.

Paul’s appearance is one of a series of exciting new events that the St Albans’ Museums team has arranged to explore new ways of displaying its collections. Other upcoming activities include a chance to learn from experts how exact replicas of the Museum’s best objects are created. The aim is to trial new ideas about how better to engage with the public in the run up to the opening of the new £7.7m Museum and Art Gallery.

The Town Hall is currently being converted into the museum in a project led by St Albans City and District Council. Building work is due to be completed next year.

Paul, who has appeared at the Edinburgh Festival and BBC Four’s The Big Dig, will perform his show – Ask an Archaeologist – on Friday 19th May. He will invite the audience to fire questions at him so he can give an amusing twist to topics ranging from the Vikings to the discovery of Richard III. Paul often strays away from ancient history to talk about many other issues such as time travel and knitting patterns!

Archaeologists Roland Williamson and Tess Machling will host Chocolate Replicas – Seeing Double on Thursday 11 May at the Verulamium Museum. This is a fun, interactive lecture on how exact replicas of precious museum objects are made. Tess has combined her skills as a chocolate maker with her knowledge of ancient history to recreate museum objects in chocolate. Roland has made replicas of some of the country’s most valuable treasures including Saxon swords and prehistoric jewellery. Those attending will get the chance to decorate a chocolate replica with edible paint to make it more realistic and take it away with them.

A chocolate replica of a museum object

Councillor Annie Brewster, the Council’s Portfolio Holder for Sport, Leisure and Heritage, said: “Our museums team are cleverly devising new ways of attracting audiences to our fantastic collections. Using Verulamium Museum as a stage for Paul, who uses Britain’s ancient history as material for his comedy routine, is an inspiring idea."

“We anticipate people who have never been to the museum before will be tempted to come along. Our programme of dynamic activities is creating a lot of interest and excitement in the new Museum and Art Gallery which will transform the cultural life of the District.”

Tickets for Chocolate Replicas, which runs from 7pm to 9.30pm, Thursday 11th May, cost £20 and include a complimentary drink.

Ask an Archaeologist Comedy Night runs from 8pm to 10pm, Friday 19th May, with tickets costing £7. A cash bar will be available.

Tickets for either event are available from Verulamium Museum or by phoning 01727 751810.

(Source: St Albans City & District Council)