Is Reenactment Right For You?
Do you love the idea of being a knight in shining armour?
Seen enough of the TV show 'Vikings' to know you wanna get in on that?
Want to play the damsel-in-distress?
Or do you really just want to hit stuff?!
Then the short answer to the title question is no. Not exactly. I know that was a short, sharp let down but bear with me on this. Let me elaborate.
Knight in Shining Armour
Portraying a knight actually takes a lot of training, money and time.
Very few people are able to afford a full harness of plate armour the day they decide to start reenactment, as even a basic set up can cost $1500. That's a scary figure for most people to consider spending on a hobby they may lose interest in. And that's just one element!
The maintenance on a harness can take hours a month. There's preventing rust, or cleaning the metal if it starts to rust; keeping the leather straps oiled and in good knick, because it sucks when a strap breaks while fighting; Then it needs to have dents fixed after the fight too!
And don't forget, a harness is time consuming to put on and take off, and you probably can't do it by yourself (and no, there are no squires-for-hire here)!
Not to mention, training in all that get-up is hot, hard work (a harness and all it's extras can be upwards of 50kgs)!
But fear not, there is an alternative!
When you're first getting into reenactment combat, protective gear is still important, but it doesn't need to be all that impressive. Helmet, gloves, gambeson/maille, study shoes and protection for delicate parts, that's where most of us start. It's basic, but immersive if done right, you look the part and you get involved with training, which is the important bit!
TV shows (Especially 'Vikings')
Here's the bit where most seasoned reenactors groan with dispair.
Don't get me wrong, I love many 'period dramas' and action films set in medieval-esque times. I'm a mad 'Game of Thrones' fan. I love 'Merlin' and 'Robin Hood: Men in Tights.' But I also understand that none of them accurately depict history.
It's fairly safe to say just about everyone in the reenactment community has had one show or another referenced in conversations with the general public. And we get it, [insert TV show here] is probably the closest they've seen to what we're doing. It's common and normal. But unless it was a BBC/ABC documentary specifically on historical events, TV shows are just for entertainment and shouldn't be used as a point of reference within reenactment groups.
Similarly, anything you see on the net, take it with a grain of salt, ask around, look for EVIDENCE.
Now, no one is expecting a prospective reenactor to know heaps about history. That would be silly. What most groups are looking for is simply members with a strong desire to learn and a willingness to participate fully. Not every week necessarily, but regularly, and especially at events, when it's all hands on deck.
Damsel-in-Distress
No. Just no. I do not know a single person in the reenactment community who 'plays' this kind of character. All the people who portray females are as strong as those that portray males. Everyone is involved. Everyone has a share of the work; and believe me, there is ALWAYS work to be done!
There's nothing wrong with wanting to play or portray a character that is wildly different from your everyday, we love doing that! But if you are looking for a place for roleplaying specifically, you're probably better off looking at two groups: 1. Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA)
2. Live Action Role Play (LARP)
Both these communities have many branches/groups that you can get involved in. SCA is similar to reenactment, in that there are some members who really go for historical accuracy (and go to some great lengths to achieve it!) and encourages personas, but there's also a lot of flexibility, more than in reenactment, in terms of accuracy. LARP is more fantasy based, or medieval flavoured acting (though I am aware that there are a few groups who do post-apocalyptic and other varieties).
However, in the reenactment community, you can portray a weaver, and teach someone how the clothes on their back were made; You can be a dyer and teach someone about all the wonderful colours that were achievable with what we now consider weeds; You can be a blacksmith and show someone the magic of making steel from iron and charcoal; A carpenter who makes furniture with no nails. The possibilities are endless and just as exciting as fantasy!
I Just Wanna Hit Stuff!
Woah, tiger! If you've gotten this far, I hope you understand that reenactment is not just a fight club. It encompasses learning and portraying elements of historical life that are often away from the battlefield. There are some events that we go to that have absolutely zero combat. They are just as important as the events where there is combat. If you really have your heart set on just swinging halberds or falchions at people, look up HMB. There are a few teams here in Victoria, but also around Australia, and would give you a chance at going to Battle of the Nations, which is definitely EPIC!
So, I'm Still Interested In Reenactment. How Do I Begin?
Excellent question, I'm glad you asked! First thing you can do is figure out if there is a particular aspect that really interests you.
Did you first see reenactors at an event? What were they doing that caught your eye? Is there a particular era you like best? A historical figure? A fashion style? A trade? All of these questions will help you figure out which kind of group you should choose. Viking/Dark Ages: *New Varangian Guard - Vlachernai
*Jomsborgarlag Sudhird
*Havardr
*Huscarls
Medieval:
*The Free Companies
*The Kings Horses
*J.O.A.S
And then there are groups like us, The Fyrd Inc., who have a large scope as to what our members can portray and are considered 'multiperiod.'
All else fails, just check out ALHF. They have a lot of info about other groups too.
Please Remember
It may seem like there's a lot of rules when it comes to reenactment, but really there's one major golden rule:
As long as you come to reenactment with an open mind, you'll find open arms to welcome you.
