Show of Strength Theatre's Blood, Booze and Buccaneers coming soon to Bristol Docks!
Posted on: 26 Jun 2018Blackbeard, the world's most famous pirate and a man synonymous with the city of Bristol once upon a time, is known to Bristol locals as a regular visitor and a patron of The Golden Guinea more than 300 years ago. It was thought that we knew everything we possibly could about the infamous pirate, until now. Blood, Booze and Buccaneers, a brand new walking tour that promises to reveal all-new details of Blackbeard's life, will open on Friday 20th July this year - just in time for the 300th anniversary of his death.
The all-new walking tour, led by the popular Show of Strength Theatre Group, will take place every Wednesday and Saturday until the Autumn, leading visitors around the Bristol Docks and past some landmarks where Blackbeard is thought to have frequented back in his day.
Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard the pirate, is thought to have been born in Bristol in the 1680s, only there are no records to prove it. But, new information found in Jamaica supports the story of his Bristol origins, and even provides some hints into the missing details of his internationally-renowned exploits. Far from your average rum-soaked Treasure Island-style pirate, it's understood that Blackbeard fabricated most of the stories about himself to terrify his enemies and force them into an early surrender.
Speaking on the new tour, Sheila Hannon, Show Of Strength’s Creative Producer, said “Blood, Booze and Buccaneers may change your view of pirates forever. The new discoveries in Jamaica are fascinating – as are the finds from Blackbeard’s ship, The Queen Anne’s Revenge. The sunken wreck was discovered off the coast of North Carolina and the amazing artifacts are creating a fascinating picture of life on a pirate ship – with lots of surprises".
"Blackbeard was killed in November 1718 on the orders of Woodes Rogers, the new Governor of the Bahamas, who sailed from Bristol to put an end to piracy. BLOOD BOOZE AND BUCCANEERS includes remarkable new information from Jamaica and tells the truth about pirates and privateers in Bristol. Bristol, where so many voyages began: even TREASURE ISLAND started in Bristol. By the end of our tour – with stops at a few dockside hostelries along the way – audiences should be able to separate the fact from the fiction.”
Fully researched, written and produced by Show of Strength, Blood, Booze and Buccaneers tours will begin at The Golden Guinea in Redcliffe and end close to the city centre. The tour will last 2/2-and-a-half hours, visiting dockside hostelries and landmarks along the way. The first tour will get underway at 5pm on Friday 20th July, and from there they will be running every Wednesday at 7pm and every Saturday at 3pm.
To book your tickets now, or for more information on Show of Strength, Blood, Booze and Buccaneers or any other tours or performances that are coming in the near future, visit Show of Strength's website or check out their Facebook page.
Article by:
Editor - 365Bristol.com & LOUD Magazine
Matt is a Journalism graduate and writer, passionate about supporting Bristol music, art and independent business. Get in touch via email at matt@365bristol.com.
