Segway Jousting and Medieval Entertainment at the Tower of London
July 08, 2011
The Segway; punchline to countless transport jokes, vehicle of choice for a certain puppet wielding magician and participant in the most ironic death ever. The teetering two-wheeled brainchild of inventor and philanthropist Jimi Heselden has always held an irresistible allure for anyone who has come into contact with one. So when we were asked to combine a medieval theme with a touch of the modern-day; Charlotte’s fascination with the most ridiculous form of transport of the 20th century surfaced with a cry of “Segway Jousting” and a new form of corporate entertainment was born.
Guests at the Tower of London went head to head in an inflatable arena provided by Ultimate Experience. Fearless contestants charged at each other on their bi-wheeled electro-steeds and trying to hit a bulls-eye on their ceremonial combat tabard. Points were awarded for accuracy and bravery but, to be perfectly honest – most combatants just wanted to get on a Segway dressed like a giant target and wave a big colourful stick around. Which is fine.
But let’s not make it all about the Jousting, eh? There were plenty of other acts on hand to delight guests at the medieval themed event. Keeping with the theme of bringing the middle ages to the present day, a la Segway Jousting, we also supplied a Laser Archery tournament giving guests a chance to test their aim against each other with electronic displays and laser bows.
Adding to Ye Olde theme were a bevy of acts fit for a King (Or Queen) including a falconry expert (and falcon), fire dancers, acrobatic stilt walkers and some rather lovely themed living tables dispensing a selection of food and drinks. Elsewhere, our escapologist Mr Flay proved that not even the Tower of London can hold him with a display of frantic wriggling and twisting that left guests with their hearts in their mouths.
The entertainment on show was intended to help guests break the ice, and it’s always easier to strike up a conversation through a shared activity – and when the shared activity is taming a hawk or driving two-wheeled vehicles at each other in a tent then there’s no shortage of talking points. Also, since the guests were mostly overseas – the entertainment gave them not only a touch of (admittedly shaky) British history, but also a chance to transcend language barriers through the medium of Jousting.
Take ye a look at some more pictures in yonder down there lower on the page.
