Not even a fool would miss Kenilworth Castle's Easter fun!

Fool School, 29 March – 1 April 2013

Easter Family Fun Trail, 23 March – 14 April

Want to learn how to juggle your Easter eggs?  Or how to turn a miserable monarch into a sniggering sovereign?  Meet a master of mirth this Easter at Kenilworth Castle when the English Heritage site opens the doors of its Fool School, from Good Friday 29 March to Easter Monday 1 April.

Under the expert tutelage of English Heritage’s juggling jester, Stuart Ashman, children will learn some of the skills and tricks used by the court fool to entertain Tudor royalty – from juggling and singing to making fun of everyone, from servants to monarchs!

“The role of the jester was to poke fun, using slapstick, wit and sometimes cruel humour to entertain the court.  Indeed, it was rather a privileged role which had special dispensation from the monarch to make jokes at the expense of senior officials without risk of punishment or retribution, but this was a fine line to walk – and pushing the humour too far could result in a whipping,” comments Kenilworth Castle’s property manager, Holly Woodward.  “That said, there are stories of Elizabeth I actually rebuking her jester for not being sufficiently severe with her!”

The Fool School continues throughout the Easter weekend, including the traditional celebration of all things silly, April Fools’ Day on 1 April (Easter Monday).  As well as juggling and telling jokes, children can learn circus skills including playing with a diabolo.

The event runs from 11.00am to 5.00pm each day over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.  Admission prices are £10.50 for adults, £9.50 for concessions and £6.30 for children, with a family ticket available for £27.30.  English Heritage members get in free. 

Alongside the Easter weekend fun, Kenilworth Castle will host  three weeks of egg-citing trails, from Saturday 23 March to Sunday 14 April.  Younger visitors will follow a series of clues which take them all around the castle ruins, and once they have completed the trail, will receive a delicious mini Lindt bunny as a prize!  The Easter Family Fun Trail runs daily from 10.00am to 5.00pm, with normal admission prices (£9.00 for adults, £8.10 for concessions, £5.40 for children and £23.40 for a family ticket) applying.

For more information on events taking place at Kenilworth Castle, please visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/kenilworth or call 01926 852078. You can also follow Kenilworth Castle on Facebook.

ENDS

Notes to editors:  If you would like a hard copy of English Heritage's 2013 press pack featuring all the events taking place throughout the West Midlands and Cheshire, a CD of accompanying imagery and a press pass, please contact Jay Commins on 01904 500698, email jay@pyperyork.co.uk.  An electronic copy is available in the English Heritage online press room.

For further media information, please contact:

Andrea Lee

Marketing Manager

Tel: 0121 625 6860

Email: andrea.lee@english-heritage.org.uk