Meet the Man behind the Acts
If someone tells you something is impossible, it's because of one of four reasons:
1 - they're too scared or lazy to do it themselves
2 - they're too scared or lazy to see if it's even possible
3 - it's not been attempted previously
4 - the right tools were not employed on the previous attempts, which lead to failure
David / Gideon Lynch
David, or Gideon as he prefers (to eliminate any confusion between him and the late American director of Twin Peaks (1996)), was born and raised in Essex. He developed a keen interest in History from a young age, leading to questions being asked by some healthcare professionals. At the young age of 8, he was diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). After leaving education in 2014, he found himself in a position of preparing himself for, what he hoped to be, a career in the armed forces. Having been rejected a number of times due to the ASD, he went from job to job, struggling to find a job that he could keep for a period of longer than three months. In 2018 at the age of 22, he discovered a route to go into living history - a field he is still in, and has no signs of leaving. In December 2019, he took the decision to try and do reenactment as a career. Following the success of a school talk in his old primary school, he had made his decision that he was going to take the opportunity that laid in front of him.
After a great amount of expendature, time and effort, Multi-Act Historical Portrayals started operations on 7 July 2020. Initially restricted to virtual bookings due to COVID restrictions, there was a limit as to how much could be done in terms of improving the company profile and being unable to do any sort of networking due to the lack of any portfolio. With the lifting of COVID restrictions in 2022, Multi-Act Historical Portrayals was able to rapid expand it's operations and started to create a portfolio of successful events. As 2022 became 2023, our profile and portfolio only increased, thereby enabling our attendance at larger profile events. Our collection of uniforms and equipment was not that extensive compared to what it would be in later years, but this was primaruily due to reduced levels of income. September 2023 would see an expansion of operations as we set up a second base of operations in Minehead, Somerset. In July 2024 at the age of 28, in a further change of circumstance, he was diagnosed with Epilepsy; which only led to an even greater determination to give a more realistic and accurate portrayal of history.
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Not adverse to working in a team, we have previously been associated with, and worked alongside, Living History Groups, and continue to do so at various events that we attend.
If you are interested in what we have to offer, head over to the Portrayals or Experiences pages and take a look. Once you have decided on what portrayal or experience you would like to book, head to the Contact Us page, leave us a message and we will endeavour to get back to you as quickly as possible.
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Multi-Act Historical Portrayals are based in Harlow in Essex; and have a Standard Operating Area that covers Harlow & Roydon. An additional base of operations is located in Minehead, Somerset. Anything outside of this area is subject to an event deposit, which is to cover the costs of transport to your booking. For those who would like an immersive history lesson or addition to a talk on a historical topic, then we are the place to go. If you would like to make a booking with us, click here and fill out the contact form with your requirements and the portrayal you would like. If there is any specific equipment you would like us to bring to your event, please include this in your booking request.
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For occasions of "Changing the Guard", combat webbing will be worn with bayonets fixed to rifles. Sentry Boxes should also be arranged to either be hired or built for the occasion.
Those who don't learn from history's mistakes are condemned to repeat them.
- Winston Churchill, 1948
History is made to shape the future.
Don't be afraid of failure, because to learn from failure is the strongest way for a person to grow.
- David / Gideon Lynch
History written in a book can be read, but it's dead history - it's not that easy to understand and hard to relate to. History in films or on television is easier for people to understand, but it can easily be corrupted or twisted by "the Hollywood Effect" in an attempt to either make history seem more realistic or to make it less harsh. It is only through extensive and tiring research using purely reputable and reliable sources, informing an immersive educational experience that can bring history to life.
- David / Gideon Lynch