A Review of the British Pageant
The biggest national event for British Latter-day Saints in 2023
Storytelling is a powerful way of educating and inspiring and The British Pageant manages to neatly interweave the stories of many different individuals and families who joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the 1830s and 1840s. The conclusion of the 2023 performances at the Preston England Temple site is the third iteration of the pageant since it first debuted in 2013. Since then it has been regularly performed in Nauvoo, Illinois.
The story is not particularly new. The British Pageant tells the story of the arrival of Latter-day Saint missionaries in 1837 and their labours in different parts of the British Isles over the next few years. The story goes on to feature the arrival of other missionaries in 1840 and the emigration of British Saints who made the difficult decision to leave their native lands for the Americas to gather with the main body of the Church. Our faithful and well-established characters return for this iteration including the heartbroken Ashton family, the plucky Scotsman Alexander Baird, Ellen Benbow, and others. Fan favourites Margaret and Twizzleton Turley once again entertained with their debate about seeds. Were they cabbage seeds? I suppose we will never find out, but their relationship and debate about the issues is great fun. Simon Munday’s performance as Twizzleton was especially memorable and convincing.
The inclusion of many English reformers into the story drives home how Latter-day Saints their faith as the culmination of centuries of preparations for a restoration of the original gospel and church structure as revealed by Jesus Christ. John Lathrop, Ann Askew, and others are profiled for the audience and presented in such a way as to suggest that the timing of the 1837 mission was divinely inspired.
The 2023 British Pageant presidency and directors opted for a return to the end stage theatre after the 2017 performances trialled an in-the-round style set-up. The end stage theatre adds some distance between the audience and the performers but I must say I prefer having a clear view of the performers and not having some of the dialogue and action taking place with the actor’s back to me. Although there will be a range of opinions on this, the traditional approach offers a more audience friendly experience and I would imagine from a stage and set management perspective it would have been easier too.
Having previously been involved with the Pageant I know how much time and energy is put into the project. Costumes have to be made, materials ordered and printed, publications and promotional material compiled, and so much more. Ultimately the hours spent rehearsing dances, songs, lines, and more are all melted down into a series of 1.5-hour performances and those involved deserve every platitude for their efforts.
Although occasional mishaps do occur those involved are good-natured and remain calm despite large audiences. At the performance we attended the Truth Will Prevail flag was erected in a tangle. A brief laugh ensued, it was lowered and sorted before being raised again to much fanfare. The two family casts (blue and red) do an excellent job and it is refreshing to see people of all ages (including young children) getting stuck into the performances.
For me, a scene of special note is when John Taylor goes to Liverpool and works with the Cannon family. Their story, which later coincides with the Ashtons, is a touching reminder of the human experience of joining the church and the dangers of travelling to Nauvoo.
The inclusivity and unity on display in The British Pageant reflect the core values of the faith. By portraying the diverse experiences of members from various backgrounds, the pageant reminds attendees of the unifying force of faith, transcending geographical and cultural differences. The commitment to portraying a mosaic of stories underscores the idea that the Latter-day Saint journey is one of collective growth and shared spiritual understanding. A highlight for me is the inclusion of stories from across the British Isles which shows a desire to include people from all nations. Having flags from the different countries carried onto the stage is a heartwarming moment of togetherness.
Thousands of people will have attended the British Pageant this year and many more will have watched it online as it was broadcast for the first ever time (11 August 2023). In our congregation maybe only 5% of members were able to watch it in person, but most could watch it online and that included those who were unable to travel to the temple for the performance for health reasons. We brought several people with us who were blown away by the scale of the performance and the quality. To say that people are giving their time so freely is quite remarkable and frankly inspiring.
So what next? The performance we attended was almost completely full with very few seats left empty, but will the Saints want to see the same story for a fourth (or more) time in 2027? What changes could be made to add a new dimension? The story of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the British Isles often centres on the 1837 mission, and for good reason, but it is not the Church that the Saints today are familiar with. There are lessons, hope, and faith to be drawn from their stories, but perhaps we might experience or learn from other moments and characters. Still, the British Pageant is a true feat in volunteer theatrical performances that sets a high bar for community theatre. Regardless of your religious beliefs, if you haven’t seen the British Pageant yet and enjoy good quality theatrical productions then I encourage you to make plans in 2027 to be there.