Dressing Fancy at Bath Assembly Rooms

About

Find out about the history of fancy dress in the Georgian period and the role Bath Assembly Rooms played in hosting fancy dress balls. Discover what it would have been like to attend a ball as a series of events explore this theme.

Explore Georgian (late 18th and early 19th century) fancy dress, discuss what fancy dress means to us today, and experience a Georgian inspired fancy ball.

The Dressing Fancy programme includes a free pop-up exhibition, a series of in-person and online talks and a grand Fancy Ball.

The Fancy Ball - Sat 15 Jun, 6.30 - 11.30pm

Don your fanciest outfit, bring your friends and have a fun evening of two halves.

Have a go at dancing and playing cards like the Georgians, embellish your outfit at the accessories wardrobe or try make-up styles from the time. Guests will be able to take some time out from the ball to explore the pop-up exhibition, and grab refreshments from the bar.

Later, hit the dance floor for a more modern form of assembly, soundtracked by a local DJ.

Play like a Georgian - Sat 15 Jun, 1.30 - 4pm

Want to learn some Georgian dance steps before the Fancy Ball? Or want to brush up on your card skills? Join this exclusive dance lesson and Georgian card games session with specialist instructors. Hillary Burlock and James Harriman-Smith will teach you some key dance steps to keep you on your toes during the ball.

Dressing Fancy: an exhibition on Georgian fancy dress then and now - Fri 14 Jun - Sun 30 Jun, 11am - 4pm

Explore the histories of Georgian fancy dress and the legacies of it today in this free pop-up exhibition. It includes historic costume, recreated historical dress, and multi-sensory elements.

Try your hand at dressing up yourself with the dress-up box, and share your opinions with us on what fancy dress means to you.

This pop-up exhibition is created in collaboration with historical dress makers, experts and community partners, to explore how and why the Georgian’s dressed up.

Dressing Fancy: a series of talks - Fri 14 Jun - Sun 30 Jun, dates and times vary

Join us for a series of talks, online and in-person, which brings together experts in the fields of Georgian dress making and recreation, global textile trade, fancy dress, dance, gambling and gaming, and ball culture.