Stoke Newington youngsters immerse themselves in the year 1549, when unemployment was rife and the king was 10

Stoke Newington youngsters immersed themselves in Tudor times in a project which culminated with a performance of site-specific theatres in Hackney’s oldest home, Sutton House.

The unique project plunged the eight and nine-year olds from Grasmere School back in time to 1549.

Before writing the musical play and getting dressed up in Tudor garb, the children researched Tudor graves in St John at Hackney graveyard, worked out how Tudors kept clean, and even went on a field trip to Ingatestone in Essex.

“The children became completely caught up in the concerns of nearly five centuries ago,” said Lissa Chapman from Clio’s Company which facilitated the project.

“It was an “interesting time” that bears some striking parallels to our own.

“The economy was in a mess, unemployment was running out of control, and there was rioting on the streets in many parts of the country, and add to this the fact that the king was just 10-years old.

“It was at this time, in a bid to suppress rioting, that the government decreed that any healthy unemployed person who refused work was to be enslaved,” she added, saying the project had enthused all the participants.

There will be an exhibition of artwork, play scripts and photographs at the school in Albion Road.