Call of Cthulhu - 'Horror in the Cisterns: Cthulhu in Byzantium'

Welcome to the 5th-century Şerefiye Sarnıcı (Theodosius Cistern) for a mystery show set in Constantinople in the year 1035. Actors will impersonate medieval characters to solve a mystery inspired by iconic urban landmarks, real archaeological objects, Byzantine historical works, medieval Icelandic sagas on the Mediterranean adventures of the Viking Harald Hardrada, and H. P. Lovecraft’s works set in Byzantium. The actors will find out the plot only as the show unfolds, trying to solve it by playing the role-playing games Call of Cthulhu and Age of Vikings in front of you, the live audience.

Cast members for the show are Jon Gracey, Tegan Verheul, Viv Egan, Nick Brooke, and Michael O'Brien. The event will be held in English and is suitable for audiences aged 13+.

The event will be recorded and will become a web show.

A Viking in the Sun

This international and interdisciplinary academic project - led by Dr Gianluca Raccagni, Senior Lecturer in Medieval History and Director of the History and Games Lab Research Centre - also includes a strong performative and creative element, which will serve to interrogate the subject matter imaginatively, but also for public engagement and impact purposes, and for experimenting in ways to integrate academic research and the creative industries.

You can find out more about the project at the link below (blog).

Harald Hardrada, the Mediterranean, and the Nordic World, between the late Viking Age and the Eve of the Crusades