John Sadler - Military Historian

Time Bandits

Time Bandits is a new development in historical interpretation and living history/drama, from first person recounting to skirmishes and battle reenactments. Our approach is led by the needs and aspirations of the client, we advise and devise in terms of scripting, location and action. The uniqueness of our approach lies in the concept of working with the client or sponsor to tailor a presentation.

We're not all about sword swinging but cover a range of crafts such as cooking, textiles, social life and medicine. We do a fair amount of work with the media, recent film credits include 'Siege & Storm' with Arpeggio and 'the Letter' with Pyramid.
To watch it follow this link

A Testimonial To The Time Bandits I really just want to say a huge thank you to John, Bill and Rosie for a fabulous day, you really brought Roman Britain to life.The children will remember it for many years to come I am sure and were very excited to tell their parents all they had learned at home time. A day spent with the Time Bandits is worth a week in front of a powerpoint or a computer. Mary Douglas All Saints School. Lanchester

Generally, I'm very interested in hearing from people who'd like to join Time Bandits, no previous experience or skills required, training will be provided as working towards Equity membership. If your interest lies in historical interpretation, drama, crafts or storytelling, you'll do nicely!

We've formed a new link with Arcade Antiques who've supplied us with some excellent 1940s kit and more to come we hope - contact is: Fiona C.M. Neilson, Arcade House, 13 the Arcade, Belsay, Northumberland NE20 0DY

And we have our own website at www.timebandits.org.uk.

On Bank Holiday Monday, we were again at Bede's World, fast becoming our spiritual home. We offered a slice of Anglo-Saxon life based in the long house; Rosie, Silvie, Eric and Tony offered a feast of Saxon cooking, much admired, all consumed!

This week and we were in Roman Road School and doing 'Heroes and Villain' under the aegis of Gem Arts, tremendous fun, Great Fire of Newcastle went down nearly as well as the Fireman Sam hotdogs!

For the weekend, we're doing Late shows - Jack's back in the Ouseburn tonight, we're in the Miner's Institute tomorrow evening, hotfoot from Preston hall which is WWI then Saxons at Bede's World on Sunday.

Fixtures list 2013:

17 - 18 May - Late Shows

18 - 19 May; Blyth Battery

18 May - WWI at Preston Hall

19 May, Saxons at Bede's World

20 May (am) More Vikings for schools

20 May (pm); pre-filming in Hartlepool

21 May - Railway Navvies in Clayport Library

22 May - Heroes & Villains

23 May - Heroes & Villains

26 May - Medieval Fair, Bede's World

27 May - Wars of the Roses, Barnard Castle

02 June; WWII at Bede's World

13 June - Medieval day at Blackfriars

15 June - Brownies at Bede's World

16 June - Trial of Jin Jamieson

26 - 28 June; Stamford Bridge Tour

29 June - WWI at Preston Hall

30 June - Durham Market

20 - 21 July; Medieval at Alnwick

21 July - Woodhorn Daleks

27 July - Preston Hall

27 - 28 July - Alnwick

03 August - Flodden Day at Branxton

07 August - Preston Hall

04 - 09 August; CLL Summer School

11 Augsut - Durham Market

18 August - ECW at Sherburn-in-Elmet

07 - 09 September; Bannockburn & Flodden tour

09 September - DLI on the Somme, WFA Durham

21 September - Whalton Village Show

17 December - Flodden at Durham Castle

Over the last few years we've worked for Tyne and Wear Museums, English Heritage, Durham County Council, Kielder Partnership, Tynedale District, North Pennines Heritage Trust, Dilston Castle, Stockton Council, Bellingham Heritage Centre, North East Council on Addictions, South Shields Museum, Darlington Railway Museum, Bedesworld, DLI Museum and Art Gallery, North East War Memorials Project, Hadrian`s Wall Heritage Limited, National Army Museum, Woodhorn County Museum and Archive, the Morpeth Gathering and Planning Aid North.

We offer multi-period events with our own cavalry and military vehicle section, period music can be provided through our partnership with 'Horseplay'.

We work extensively in schools, in the community and with various special needs groups.

All of our members are police checked and are members of Equity with indemnity insurance of £5,000.000 each.

Time Bandits aims, as the slogan says, to bring history to life in a manner which is both informed and entertaining. We presently have a core group of around six dedicated members and this needs to grow. We'd be delighted to hear from anyone interested in re-enactment, drama, period crafts, historical interpretation. You don't need any kit initially, nor any experience, the use of most of your faculties, own teeth and a sense of humour would assist.

For a copy of the "Time Bandits" leaflet, please click on the PDF icon below.

You will be able to view, or download and print, the information contained in the the leaflet.