Description

Mary Rose Assembly

Mary Rose Assembly. That poor narrator! Stuck in the midst of it as usual! Peevish jealous wives of Henry VIII on one side – and irate Pope on the other – all with an axe to grind against the Mary Rose – though in the case of the latter, her fate was to be a watery one, not ‘on the block’!

Cast of 30 (easily adapted up or down). Duration: Around 15 minutes, not including songs/music selections.

It would seem even the court jester, one ‘Will’ may have his work cut out cheering up his heartbroken master – but help is at hand … in very ‘unlikely attire’!

Mary Rose Assembly Sample Text:

Diving Archaeologist 1:          And then, on October 11th 1982, the Mary Rose herself was brought to the surface!

Diving Archaeologist 2:          Over four hundred years after she had gone down!

Henry VIII:       What? Are you telling me you managed to lift her up off the ocean floor?

Diving Archaeologist 3:          Well, we did need a fairly large crane to help us!

Diver 1:           (Flexing biceps) Yes, we’re not that strong!

Diver 2:           (Laughing) No, it would have taken us a few more sessions down the gym to lift 570 tonnes of hull!

Diver 3:           We were indeed helped by Tog Mor.

Henry VIII:       Tog Mor? Who’s he?

Diving Archaeologist 1:          A floating crane which lifted the Mary Rose out of the water into a cradle of steel.

Diving Archaeologist 2:          This was specially shaped to match the shape of the hull. And lined with air bags.

Diving Archaeologist 3:          After a short tow , the Mary Rose ended up in the Number Three Dry Dock in Portsmouth Harbour

Diver 1:           Actually within a few yards of where she was built four hundred and seventy two years ago.

Diver 2:           And then in May 2013 this great museum – a spectacular building of aluminium arches covering the ship – was opened to the public.

Henry VIII:       Spectacular, you say? I should think so!  Nothing but the best for my Mary Rose!

Diver 3:           Well, at thirty five million pounds it was certainly that!

Henry VIII:       As befitting my lovely lady!

Narrator:         Oh oh! Don’t let those wives hear you saying that!

Henry VIII:       (Beaming from ear to ear) Ah, you don’t want to worry about them! Nothing’s going to spoil my mood now!

Court Jester:   (Tutting) So you’re not going to need my services? A wasted journey?

Henry VIII:       (Sighing) Oh go on then, Will! Just one joke! Make it a good one!

Court Jester:   OK. So let’s see. (Walking over to where soldiers are sitting, holding their bows and arrows).

(To audience) See these archers? Do they look like they’re shaking? (Pauses before answering) Nah! It’s their arrows that are all of a quiver!

(Court Jester falls about laughing)

(Enter Soldiers 1 – 5, armed with bows and arrows)

Soldier 1:        OK so we have a little joke too!

Court Jester:   Oh go on then! Fire away!

(All soldiers aim at Court Jester)

Soldier 2:        As you wish!

(Pretend ‘flurry of arrows’ fly through the air at Court Jester, who runs off stage screaming)

Henry VIII:       Hmm. I think they call that ‘firing at will’!

Narrator:         (Laughing loudly) Firing at will? At your Court Jester, Will? Very funny, your majesty! I’ll be sure to tell your wives about your wicked sense of humour next time I see them!