The Royal College of Physicians’ (RCP’s) theatrical summer event – A theatre of doctors: an evening of medical history and drama - will bring to life the satirical images on display in its current exhibition, A taste of one’s own medicine: medical satire at the RCP.
On 20 July, visitors will be able to join the event in person or take part online. Throughout the evening, acting group Rupture in Rapture Theatre will perform live vignettes inspired by the satirical prints from the RCP’s current exhibition, exploring how doctors have been ridiculed, reprimanded and maligned for centuries. There will also be a range of interactive activities available and an expert-guided tour of the exhibition.
In-person guests will enjoy drama, drinks and nibbles in the RCP's medicinal garden next to Regent's Park. In between three live performances visitors will take a guided tour of the exhibition, have the chance to interact with the performers and explore the RCP Museum and garden. Guests will receive a free drink on arrival followed by nibbles during the evening.
Online guests will be able to enjoy the three drama performances live-streamed, as well as a virtual tour of the exhibition, and an opportunity to take part in interactive online games, provided by Live'n History, and Q&As with the performers.
The hybrid nature of this event has been made possible thanks to the support of the Art Fund Reimagine Grant.
Lowri Jones, senior curator of the Royal College of Physicians Museum, said:
“A taste of one’s own medicine is all about giving visitors the ability to decipher the complex stories contained within the satirical prints and let us peek into the world in which they were created. Rupture in Rapture Theatre’s dramatic performances will allow visitors to immerse themselves in this world.
“The performances are inspired by key prints from our collection including cartoonist James Gillray’s print lampooning English doctor Edward Jenner following his development of a successful vaccine against smallpox, and an illustration of one of the adventures of Baron Munchausen criticising the effectiveness of the RCP in the 18th century.
“The in-person and virtual expert-guided tours of the exhibition, the time to explore our other collections and medicinal garden, and the chance to interact with the performers makes this a unique opportunity for visitors to really engage with medical satire at the RCP.
“I’m really pleased to have the opportunity to offer this event both in-person and online and see such an engaging but previously under-used part of our collections brought to life.”
Visitors can book tickets for the event on 20 July via Art Tickets.
To find out more about the exhibition please visit the museum’s website.
A wide range of images from the exhibition is available. For visuals, to discuss interviews, advance access to the exhibition, invitations to the launch evening and subsequent events, plus other media opportunities contact: Mike Blakemore in the Royal College of Physicians press team at mike.blakemore@rcp.ac.uk or by telephone on +44 (0)20 3075 1468.
About the Royal College of Physicians
Everything we do at the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) is aimed at improving patient care and reducing illness. We are patient centred and clinically led, driving improvement in the diagnosis of disease, the care of individual patients and the health of the whole population, both in the UK and around the world. Our 40,000 members work in hospitals and the community across 30 different medical specialties and range from medical students to retired doctors. The RCP is the oldest medical college in England.