This gladiatorial contest was staged at the Flag Fen Bronze Age Centre by a group called Britannia, numbering about 60 men, woman and children. They are from all over the southern half of England, and they somehow get together for practices prior to the show. They have featured in famous films, as well as staging these ad hoc contests. In this case, Londinium was playing against Durobrivae, which is a former Roman town just outside Peterborough near the A1. Flag Fen now has a grass arena in a hollow, which is ideal for this and other open air events such as Shakespeare plays. First, the main characters:
The two guys below will later be acting as guards to the Roman Emperor when he makes an entrance, but are in the meantime demonstrating their catapult. The straw bear sitting in the sling has escaped from the pub as usual. If they fire him off, he'll end up in the Power Station a couple of fields away! These two men are motor bike cops with the Metropolitan Police during the week!
Below: A different view showing the catapult in action...
Left: The Roman Senator, who also provided the commentary to the action. He is the boss of the troupe, and he trains all the swordsmen himself.
Right: The priestess of the temple of Fortuna, in real life the Senator's wife.
At the beginning of the proceedings we were entertained by the musicians, who also played drums at times throughout to add to the drama:
Come on you lot, look lively!
At last, the Emperor has made an entrance, and the proceedings can begin...
