TAKE A WALK ON
THE EAST SIDE
WITH THE BACKPASSAGES
OF SPITALFIELDS
The antidote to history walks
-press release-
Meet Alan and Steve, two unusual tour guides who want to take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of an East End you barely know.
“A superb and lovable comic duo.” - British Theatre Record.
Alan Gilbey is a genuine cockney, born within the sound of a car radio being stolen.
Steve Wells is an actor with the loudest voice in London.
Together they are a classic double act working in a new medium; the history walk. On their Backpassages of Spitalfields tour they use street theatre, silly props and stand-up comedy to bring the story of this atmospheric London village alive.
From Roman burials to rioting silk workers, from spooky architects to trendy artists this unique district has seen it all - and so will you, often in surprising ways! The walk constantly changes to include new developments in the area, as well as all the strange, impromptu things that can happen on the street.
There is nothing in the capital quite like it.
“Sharp, enlightening and deliciously quirky… unique.” - The Guardian
Started several years ago in frustration at the many Jack The Ripper walks that dominate the area at weekends, local resident Alan got together with community theatre veteran Steve to tell a different story.
“ So many amazing things have happened around here, yet all they ever go on about is bloody Jack The Ripper!” says Alan “There are many more stories worth telling and lots of ways to tell them.”
And telling them their own way has won them many fans, including Amy Lame ( of ITV’s Celebrity Fit Club ) who wrote in The Independent On Sunday -
“A tour de farce… would make any music hall audience groan with laughter… the cool alternative option.”
AUDIENCE COMMENTS
"The walk was extremely funny - I don't think I have ever laughed so much in the space of an hour and a half. It really inspired me to go back and explore the area again. I used to work less than 5 minutes walk from Spitalfields and I was surprised by how little I knew about it, and by the many interesting places I completely failed to visit before." - Penny of Tulse Hill, 'something in the city'
"Alan and Steve's wacky off-beat walk is both highly amusing and remarkably informative. A number of entertaining gimmicks serve only to emphasise the points being made. I thoroughly recommend the walk and hope they will do more in other parts of London." - Nigel of Chingford, accountant.
"I was impressed. Having people lead the walk who make their living by entertaining, the comedic skills they so obviously possessed and the way they could play off each other, gave the whole experience an edge that I have not experienced on similar history walks in London.” - Nick of Tottenham, bank employee.
"Just to say that I had a great time on the Back Passages Walk; I really enjoyed the mix of humour and history! (A much better way to learn than a 'serious' history walk. I also liked the emphasis on the real social history of the area, rather than just the Jack the Ripper story. Altogether a great evening, and I'd welcome more!” - Mike of Borehamwood, theme park designer.
“I think 'Back Passages' lives up to its subtitle 'an antidote to history walks'. Beneath the veneer of comic banter lies some passionately held beliefs about various issues such as social justice. But it would be equally appealing to people who buy the Daily Telegraph, as well as Guardian types."
- Steve of Ealing, research scientist.
CARE TO JOIN THEM?
IMPORTANT! IMPORTANT! IMPORTANT!
NO SPITALFIELDS WALKS ARE CURRENTLY SCHEDULED
ALTHOUGH WE HAVEN’T GONE AWAY FOREVER.
In 2007, after seven years of traversing the streets with Alan, co-performer Steve Wells decided to hang up his brogues and call it a day.
Those of you who have already witnessed the loudest actor in
There will be a one off walk this Summer ( see Spitalfields Festival website for details ) and Alan still guides occasional private parties, but regular tours will only resume when he’s had a brilliant new idea for something the same but different.
WATCH THIS SPACE
