From Fact to Fiction: Creating Fantasy Characters from History
Use the rooms and items of Strangers’ Hall to inspire a new fantasy character. We’ll start by creating their belongings, then their home, and finally their appearance and identity.
Much like how we uncover the identities of people through historical artefacts and homes, we’ll discover your fantasy character through exploring Strangers’ Hall and creatively interpreting what we find.
We’ll also explore the fundamentals of character design, study concept art and discuss how designers build detailed and compelling characters.
Dates and times:
Friday 5 September, 10:30am - 1pm
Friday 12 September, 10:30am - 1pm
Friday 19 September, 10:30am - 1pm
Strangers’ Hall will be closed to the public during these workshops, but all the rooms and the garden will be open to explore during the sessions. We’ll be mainly drawing in the Great Hall, pictured below.
Who’s it For
Anyone aged 18 and over who is interested in imagining and drawing fantasy creatures, environments and stories.
The workshops will be tailored to beginners and those new to drawing and fantasy worldbuilding, but adventurers with all skill levels and experiences are welcome to join.
We especially welcome introverted and neurodivergent explorers, and anyone who is usually unable to afford creative activities.
The workshops at Strangers’ Hall will include walking round the Hall and gardens, using stairs and uneven surfaces. We will also be drawing outside, if the weather is nice enough. We have more accessible workshops in this series later in the year.
What’s included
All materials and resources are included, but you’re welcome to bring your favourite drawing equipment if you’d like to.
We’ll also provide teas, coffees, water and some snacks, but you’re more than welcome to bring your own. If you have any allergies or dietary requirements please include them in the sign-up form.
Travel Bursaries
If you’re unable to afford the travel to and from the workshops, we may be able to cover the costs. We have a total of £200 to support participants’ travel for this three-week workshop series.
This can include train and bus tickets, taxi fares, petrol costs or other costs from travelling to and from the workshops.
If you’d miss out on this workshop without financial support for travel, please complete the ‘travel bursary’ section of the sign-up form and we’ll be in touch.
Please note, if we cover your travel for the workshops, we’ll pay you back for the cost once you’ve sent us a receipt, and we’ll make sure to do this as soon as possible after we receive your receipt. You can email your receipt or give it to us at the workshop. We can pay you back via a bank transfer or PayPal.
Facilities
There are toilets to the left of the entrance, just before the steps to the entry door.
There’s a kitchen where we can make hot drinks, and we’ll provide teas, coffees, water and some snacks, but you’re more than welcome to bring your own. If you have any allergies or dietary requirements please include them in the sign-up form.
Access
Unfortunately Strangers’ Hall doesn’t have step-free access, and isn’t accessible for push chairs and wheelchairs. We will be holding free and accessible workshops for adults later in the year.
The workshops will be held in the Great Hall on tables and benches. Please let us know if you need a chair with a back and we’ll be happy to accommodate.
There is no obligation or pressure to take part in all of the workshops, or the whole session, and you’re more than welcome to take as many breaks as you need.
If you have any requirements we’ll work hard to meet them. Before booking, please get in touch with anything you would need to access this course, and we’ll try our best to put things in place for you to feel safe, supported and comfortable.
Please email: greetings@waywardadventurers.co.uk or Phone: 07774080378 with any access questions and requirements.
About the Workshop Hosts
Jaz (she/her)
I created the Wayward Adventurers Guild back in September 2020 to share the joy and excitement of making new fantasy worlds.
I've taught art, design and photography for over ten years in schools, universities, and independently. I've worked with children in care, those with special educational needs and children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
I love worldbuilding, but a lot of the time I find it overwhelming and intimidating. I'm terrible at in-depth Dungeons and Dragons campaigns and shy away from rule-heavy games for fear of getting it wrong, which is very common for me. I wanted to create a space for people to dabble in worldbuilding without rules and to find their way of doing it.
Ben (he/him)
I’ve played Dungeons and Dragons and larped for over ten years, and my background is in Gymnastics coaching. I now support workshops, build our event set-ups and support the day-to-day running of a small business.
It can be hard to find time to fully commit to big larps or complex tabletop games, and so we’re hoping our workshops will be more manageable and less pressured.
Find out more about the Wayward Adventurers Guild here
These workshops are made possible with generous funding from Arts Council England, in-kind support and partnership with Norwich Forum Trust and Norwich Games Festival, and in-kind support from Norfolk Museum Services, Attleborough Library, the Bircham Centre and the Shoebox Enterprises.