Plantagenet Society Shows: Tourney

The tournament is the coup de grace of the Plantagenet show. In a gala event which lasts over an hour, the entire ensemble come together in an alarmingly realistic showpiece which pits the kingdoms of England and France against each other. Set against the colourful backdrop of the Hundred Years' War, each side sports several brave knights and their retinue, including squires, men-at-arms, and ladies. An Earl Marshal oversees the event and provides informative, relevant and often humourous commentary to the proceedings.

The knights assembled bring the full impact of military glamour to the tourney field. Formal honours, the favours of the beautifully-dressed ladies, and the cheering of the crowd are traditional prizes. But each character on the field has his own reasons for being there and his own style for settling scores and proving points.

Although the full tournament lasts over an hour, it is carefully crafted to ensure that even a passing observer will find it interesting and informative. Generally divided into at least half a dozen individual combats and a finale involving all the knights, visitors can equally well take in the whole show or shorter sections.