Dover at Night… and the magical time machine clock!
Explore Dover’s past, present and ecological future
Imagine the scene... Dover’s time-continuum has been disrupted by a lightning strike on the Maison Dieu’s famous old clock! This dramatic incident has turned its impressive mechanism of cogs, levers and dials into a time machine, spiralling Dover at Night venues into a mind-blowing mix of historical eras.
Intrepid time-travellers can explore the town to discover secret symbols before visiting the Maison Dieu to correct the time machine, assisted by Steam Punk scientists, and helping Dover return to the 21st century!
What is there to see?
- The Roman Painted House, where Roman graffiti is the inspiration for visitors to create a giant paper mural, working alongside street artist Tim Smithen. There’s also a fun game to handle real and replica Roman artefacts and match them to their equivalents today!
- Dover Library, based in the recently refurbished Dover Discovery Centre, with creative activities specially designed for Key Stage 1 and pre-school visitors.
- Dover Museum, there’s a Night at the Museum theme, with characters coming to life from the displays, to talk about Dover in the past, from a Roman soldier and medieval pilgrim, to Queen Elizabeth I and a WW1 gun crew!
- The Kent Downs National Landscape's silver Airstream in Biggin Street. Travel through millions of years to explore how our amazing planet has changed and how to shape its future! Marvel at the beautiful owl lantern and watch out for the Hooden Horses as they get up to mischief!
- St Mary’s Church, a real ‘history zone’ with representatives from Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury Christ Church University’s Kent-Maps-Online and the Dover Society, sharing stories, maps, documents and images of the town’s colourful history.
- Biggin Hall, where you can take part in a giant boardgame inspired by the Kent Downs and White Cliffs coastline, led by students from the Royal College of Arts.
- St Edmund’s Chapel, where you can view the candlelit Guardians of the Ladywell and River Dour, textile installations by local artist Jenni Cresswell.
- Artwork by over 1,000 local school children projected on the outside of buildings, including Maison Dieu House. There will also be animated projections on St Mary’s Church and opposite The Art Club near the Market Square.
- Gamebase, where visitors will re-imagine Dover buildings through Minecraft, using a bank of 22 computers
Two family-friendly performance stages
Expect high energy and lots of opportunities for audience participation!
- The Market Square stage programme, organised by Shiva Nova, includes South Coast Samba, the Fuddlers, Chinese dancing (with fans and ribbons), Nepalese dancing, and African drumming.
- The Maison Dieu stage, where performances will time-travel through the decades. Look out for Rock ‘n’ Roll, seated 70s dancing, Junk Punk 80s, Crinolines to techno, and live tributes from the 1940s to the 2020s.
Pick up a trail sheet to win a prize
- Pick up a trail sheet map at the first Dover at Night venue you visit to use as your guide
- Visit venues in any order - no advance booking is necessary
- There’s a secret symbol to collect at each location, using infra-red goggles or magnifying glasses.
- Sketch three or more symbols on your trail map, then visit the Maison Dieu to fix the time machine and win a small prize. Prizes may also be collected at Dover Museum if you finish at that end of town, before 8.45pm.
Refreshments
Drinks and refreshments are available at St Mary’s Church and cafes, which are staying open especially for this event. See the trail sheet map for details.
Information
- Dover at Night is a free drop-in event and there is no need to book.
- Suitable for all ages.
- All buildings, except St Edmund’s Chapel, are buggy and wheelchair accessible.
All activities are correct at time of issue but may be subject to change.
Dover at Night is organised by Artswork Dover and the Maison Dieu with a host of local partners. Made possible with generous funding from Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.