Spalding actor Ryan Gilmartin brings to life history of Lincolnshire in Henry VIII Used To Hate Us at Ayscoughfee Hall

An audience was taken on a journey with an actor and his musicians at Ayscoughfee Hall, Spalding in their production Henry VIII Used To Hate Us.

Some 25 adults, youngsters and children turned up for the Friday night performance at 5.30pm and were welcomed by live music and speech from the balcony inside the historic building.

Actor Ryan Gilmartin is born and bred in Spalding and the play aims to bring the history of Lincolnshire and the Fens to life.

It was certainly interactive –moving from the balcony into another room – with audience members asked to write three words that describe Lincolnshire –mine were pumpkins, wind turbines – and youngsters seemed to enjoy interacting with the actors and musicians.

I did however take a snoop at other people's post it notes – and the word flat appeared numerous times.

Mr Gilmartin said: “The next steps are to create a filmed recording of the show and approach heritage venues across the Fens to see if they'd like to program us and bring this experience to their visitors.”

The subject of identity is explored – with the audience asked to say their name and explain the meaning behind it – Ryan means Little King – and the title of the show reflects a quote by the King of England in the 16th century as he described Lincolnshire as ‘the most brutal and beastly in the realm’.

I attended the first of two shows that evening, with audience members immersed in the history of Lincolnshire and moving between rooms during the production.

The actor asks what the area is known for – and suggests there is more to Lincolnshire than just sausages.

He brings to life Hereward the Wake – and the immersive production sees members of the audience become rebels – painting stripes on their faces and wearing armbands –with further references to the Iceni Tribe, Boudicca St Pega and St Guthlac and the Fenland Tigers.

The audience learned about the exit of Catholicism and the popular Church of England coming in and the aspects of change that are natural to all places, but without losing a sense of identity – “we can’t expect the world to change and not this area to change too.”

There were some knowing laughs during the performance – with references such as ‘it’s not flat – it’s flat -packed – it needs to be rebuilt.”

The music was good (John Dipper and Dave Malkin) with the audience asked to learn a song containing lyrics in reference to Henry VIII: “He’ll steal our gold, these three silver crosses, surrender to a slob, he calls us brutes and beastly, but it’s us he seeks to rob.”

With a juxtaposition of traditional music played on guitar and a ‘violin of love’ and modern touches – use of a polaroid for selfies and Peaky Blinders references – the performance got some laughs in the right places (“This place came pre-made, like a Wetherspoon’s meal”) and provided a sense of understanding that there is more to Lincolnshire than simply being flat with pumpkins and wind turbines – oh and sausages.

There is a final show for this stage of the project, in Boston, taking place on Friday, October 20, at 6pm at RSPB Frampton Marsh.