SceneSpan

09/05/2024

Peter needing a hair cut, and speaking to BBC's HistoryExtra about the historical back story to the new series on Disney+
Full podcast available wherever you usually get your podcasts, in which we go into all sorts of detail about the production!

06/05/2024

Very sad to read of the death of the great Bernard Hill 😢

01/05/2024

Peter speaking to the Aspects of History podcast, about the new Shardlake show, which came out on Disney+ today and on which Peter worked as historian.

A bonus episode sees the historical consultant of the new Disney series Shardlake join to discuss disability and the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and the history behind the new show. Based on the novels written by C.J.Sansom who died on Saturday 27th April.

29/04/2024

How sad we are to hear of the death of the brilliant C.J. Sansom, author of the Shardlake novel series which, by a remarkable and rather tragic coincidence, is finally to appear on our TV screens in only two days.
A truly great historical novelist, who introduced countless readers to the endless fascination of historical study.
Thankfully he was with us long enough to have had a huge influence on the TV adaptation of his first novel - the Shardlake we'll see on screen later this week is Sansom's Shardlake.

The four-part adaptation of historical crime novel Dissolution stars Game Of Thrones actor Sean Bean, Masters Of The Air actor Anthony Boyle, and The Innocents star Arthur Hughes.

17/04/2024

SHARDLAKE, which was a joy to advise for, comes out on Disney+ on 1 May!
"Shardlake" is a TV adaptation of the first in the series of Shardlake novels by C.J. Sansom - an ingenious and gripping series of Tudor whodunnit stories. This one is a murder mystery set in a Tudor monastery during the time of the dissolution - intriguing!

Follow Disney+ UK for the latest:Disney+: https://www.disneyplus.com/ X: https://twitter.com/DisneyPlusUK/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DisneyPlusUK/...

16/04/2024

First-look stills released for the new Wolf Hall series! which wrapped just before Easter.
"Peter and SceneSpan joined a troupe of historical advisors and coaches on The Mirror and the Light to provide the production with a wealth of practical and scholarly advice in the niche area of 16th-century liturgical practice. Peter coached cast members through rites and rituals in a friendly and reassuring manner. His advice encompassed the authenticity of props, costume and staging across weddings, deathbeds and evensongs, and was delivered with enthusiasm, energy and a commendable flexibility as to how closely it was followed!”
-Lisa Osborne
Producer, Wolf Hall 2: The Mirror & The Light

15/03/2024

Great day advising on the set of Wolf Hall yesterday! With the privilege of working with incredible musicians as well as truly brilliant actors.

22/02/2024

Unusually, we're currently consulting on two major period dramas simultaneously, and both very different eras. Peter churning through scripts, in the SceneSpan office which doubles (triples?) as a studio for his and Helen's other businesses, Vestus robe hire and Wagstaff & Wardle

25/10/2023

Delighted to be working on the new Wolf Hall! Even if there are rather a lot of balls in the air (see below...)

🥱 End of a long and busy Wednesday in the W&W studio. At the far end of the room - the sewing end - our amazing seamstress Valia has been working Valia-ntly all day, perfecting every seam on the Lara Tops for the many who are waiting patiently for their orders to arrive 🙂(we're working on it!)
Meanwhile Helen has been working from the relative peace of her dining room, coming up with gorgeous new W&W designs; and Peter has spent the day at his desk (foreground) working as historical & clerical consultant for the new series of Wolf Hall, through his other company SceneSpan, advising on what costumes and props are required for their church scenes, amongst other things.
Life is never dull in the W&W studio, which doubles (triples?) as the Vestus robe hire studio and SceneSpan studio 😁

02/08/2023

A new Disney+ production well worth looking out for!
This series is based on the first "Shardlake" book by CJ Sansom - a murder mystery set in Tudor England. Wonderful books well worth a read.
We had a great time consulting on authenticity for this show, which worked really hard to make the world as real as possible.

The Original series is based on the best-selling novels by British author C.J. Sansom. Written by Stephen Butchard and produced by The Forge and Runaway Fridge

06/06/2023

Enjoying a re-watch of the hilarious "Cunk on Britain" 😂

I love this show but I own nothing copyright wise.

25/05/2023

"Firebrand" movie, on which we were proud to consult, receives eight-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival, and is already tipped for some major awards.

Starring Jude Law as King Henry VIII and Alicia Vikander as his sixth – and final – wife, Katherine Parr, Karim Aïnouz’s Firebrand received an eight-minute standing ovation at Cannes Film Festival

27/04/2023

Latest news about 'Firebrand' starring Jude Law & Alicia Vikander, on which SceneSpan enjoyed working as historical consultancy!
'Firebrand' will premiere at the Cannes Film Fest next month.

EXCLUSIVE: Here’s a first look at Alicia Vikander’s turn as Katherine Parr in the Cannes-bound Firebrand. Gabrielle Tana’s Brouhaha Entertainment has released the first-look photo of th…

28/01/2023

The Tudor fans among you may like to know that today is a particularly interesting day...
On 28th January 1457, Henry VII was born.
On 28th January 1547, Henry VIII died.
Pleasing, right?!

06/07/2022

You're watching it by now, right?
Ep.5 out next Sunday

Elizabeth’s successful return to court and favour is threatened as Thomas tries to rebuild his life and approaches her with a reckless plan. Watch an all-new...

03/07/2022

If you're not watching "Becoming Elizabeth" yet, why not?! Episode 4 out today.

The aftermath of the party has left Elizabeth alone and amongst strangers, and terrified of anyone discovering the truth of what went on in Chelsea. Watch an...

24/06/2022

Delighted to see such strong reviews coming in for "Becoming Elizabeth"!

This romp through the Tudor court shows a poisonous family power struggle with s*x at its heart – and with so many fascinating monsters on screen, you won’t be able to look away

19/05/2022

DON'T MAKE THIS MISTAKE!
Historic art is a great resource for productions, but interpretation is key...

Tonsured monks in Henry VIII's bedroom? Historic art is a great resource for productions, but interpretation is key.

25/04/2022

🎬 We're really enjoying our work on , a Tudor psychological thriller which began production last week. Jude Law as the tyrannical and unstable Henry VIII, Alicia Vikander as the under-represented sixth wife Katherine Parr, as well as Simon Russel Beale as Bishop Stephen Gardiner and a host of other stellar cast members. All directed by the wonderful Karim Aïnouz. Watch this space!

22/04/2022

“lol they must have at least one black actor everywhere these times”, said one insightful commentator.
In the latest 3-minute read, we consider the role of black people in Tudor society, of black characters in Tudor drama, and the issues around colour-blind casting.

Do we understand the role of black men and women in our history and on our TV screens? We have a lot to learn about the black Tudors.

21/04/2022

🎬 🤯RELEASED TODAY: official trailer for "Becoming Elizabeth", the first major project on which SceneSpan worked as historical consultancy. What a wonderful feeling to see it all come together like this! 🥳

Before she was Queen, she was Elizabeth. Don’t miss Queen Elizabeth I’s heroine origin story in , premiering 12th June on .For mo...

05/07/2021

🎬 "To shine a light on the truth of a character, sometimes you need to bring them out from beneath the murky shade of historical fact."
I respond to a recent article by Dan Jones about the flexible treatment of truth in period drama.

Are the makers of period drama allowed to fib about history? To what extent? And under what circumstances?

03/07/2021

🎬 What's my #1 Golden Rule for achieving historical authenticity in period drama? I give it away in my blog for filmmakers

In my blog For Filmmakers, I divulge my Golden Rule for historical authenticity on shoot. And it's the easiest thing in the world.

24/06/2021

“Peter and SceneSpan instinctively understand the balance between what is historically accurate and what dramatically works. Their research and advice always helped open up the world and its possibilities; they were there to collaborate, not police the production. They were invaluable all the way from the script to production.”
- Anya Reiss, Creator / Writer / Executive Producer, "Becoming Elizabeth"
Thanks Anya! 🙂 We loved working with you too!

Pioneering historical consultancy & fixing service for film & TV, with full on-set support. Bringing history to life - we care about authenticity and great storytelling.

12/05/2021

🎬🎬Such a joy to be consulting for these guys! An amazing team on both sides of the camera. Going to be an incredible show (with some very authentic history!) Watch this space for release dates.

is in production! Meet the cast and get your first look. to the STARZ YouTube Channel: http://bit.ly/1kalhP0Like STA...

14/04/2021

History in a nutshell
I'm currently working for a Tudor drama, and while perusing the scripts, got to thinking about the curious character of Lady Jane Grey. A well-known name in English history, sure, but how much do you really know about her? Here's my 2-minute crash course: Lady Jane Grey in a nutshell

18/03/2021

Sorry to say that the next Lockdown Treasure will have to wait another week for release. Though pleased to say that the reason for this is that we have a busy week on set with "Becoming Elizabeth", helping with their historical accuracy. Will be a great Tudor drama, out soon on Disney+

08/03/2021

🤓 Did you know that around 1180 BCE, civilization completely vanished? And that nobody knows why? Peter Wagstaff gives you the Bronze Age Collapse in a nutshell.
👍🔁Remember to like and share if you're enjoying SceneSpan's blogs! It really helps 😀

Did you know that around 1180 BCE, civilization completely vanished? And that nobody knows why? Here’s the Bronze Age Collapse in a nutshell, by Peter Wagstaff

05/03/2021

LOCKDOWN TREASURE #7: Peter Wagstaff shows you a mint-condition relic of the English Reformation, from Bristol Cathedral - the Great Bible of Henry VIII.
For the full story: https://scenespan.com/lockdown-treasure-7-henrys-great-bible/
Don't forget to hit 'share' if you're having as much fun as we are!

19/02/2021

In LOCKDOWN TREASURE #9 from Bristol Cathedral, Peter opens a door to the past, and steps into a monk's shoes for a night. See the blog for the full story: https://scenespan.com/lockdown-treasure-door-to-the-past/
If you're enjoying the countdown, please hit 'share' to spread the love!