'Roman's Got Talent' features at estate annual show

A free festival is to showcase different talents from the Roman era with a theatre performance based on the reality show Britain's Got Talent.

The two-day Roman Fest will be held at the Chester House Estate, near Irchester, Northamptonshire, and will include a performance of 'Roman's Got Talent'.

The show will be performed by the charity Laugh Out Loud Theatre Company and will highlight talents such chariot racing and a Gladiator dance troupe.

Audience members will also be asked to participate as judges and rate the performances.

The event, which is expecting about 5,000 people, will also include the opportunity to see an excavation in progress and the chance to wash real Roman objects that have been found at the site.

Jane Bethea, director of public health, communities and leisure at North Northamptonshire Council, said the event would highlight the "400 years of Roman history" at The Chester House Estate.

She said: "This event is always the highlight of the estate's calendar and provides a fun day out for the whole family, whilst also providing a great insight into the world of Roman Britain."

The festival, organised in partnership with the University of Leicester's Heritage Hub, will also feature Roman-themed stalls and crafts, a pop-up archaeology lab and Roman-style military demonstrations.

A pop-up exhibition of artwork by Northampton College students inspired by the Romans and objects from the Northamptonshire Archaeological Resource Centre will also be displayed, and the event will feature stalls from museums, archaeology groups and heritage organisations.

Sarah Scott, professor of archaeology and director of the university's Heritage Hub, said: "This annual event is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our collaborative research and archaeological expertise through guided tours of our live excavation and an interactive pop-up archaeology lab.

"In addition to popular favourites, such as demonstrations from the Ermine Street Guard, you can learn the basics of osteoarchaeology, examine real archaeological finds using microscopes and uncover the surprising role of insects in archaeology and health."

Roman Fest 2025 will take place on 28 and 29 June, between 10:00 and 16:00 BST.

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