The Order of the Penguin is a 19-20th century polar exploration living history group based in the south of England. We focus on historical events such as the tragic Franklin Expedition, the Belgica Expedition, and the Heroic Age.
The Order of the Penguin relies completely on donations. If you'd like to support us, you can do so with the link below:
Next event: Harwich International Sea Shanty Festival
ABOUT US
The Order of the Penguin was inspired first and foremost by AMC's 2018 series about the 1845 Franklin expedition, The Terror. For many of our members this was the spark for their Polar Exploration obsession.The group was created with the intention of giving those who are underrepresented in the re-enactment community an environment to practice the hobby where they feel safe and respected, while also sharing the incredible stories of Polar Explorers and maritime history with the general public.Whilst we are predominantly devoted to portraying this particular expedition, our interests vary and other inspirations include the 1914 Imperial Trans-Antarctic expedition and the 1897 Belgian Antarctic expedition.
What unites all of these expeditions in our eyes is a sense of heroic, and at times tragic, failure.Shackleton did not achieve his goal of crossing the Antarctic,
but instead returned to England with one of the greatest
feats of survival in exploration history.The Belgian Antarctic Expedition went terribly in the scheme of things, but despite the conflict, dead penguin, conditions and incessant drama,
they sailed home.The heroism of the Franklin Expedition is oft left undescribed. Perhaps this is due to the severe loss of the expedition and the indisputable colonial hubris which brought upon the perfect storm of ill-preparedness, tired command, and bad luck. Perhaps it is because the men had no choice but to survive. But within the Franklin Expedition is a testament to the Victorian sailor's bravery.To be faced with the utterly unknown, for death to be very real and likely company, to experience alien and hellish conditions, brutal work, violent punishment, and to still set sail in the name of adventure and homeland must surely be the definition of bravery.
NOT HERE: THE WHITE NORTH HAS THY BONES; AND THOU, HEROIC SAILOR-SOUL, ART PASSING ON THINE HAPPIER VOYAGE NOW TOWARD NO EARTHLY POLE.
CONTACT DETAILS
If you have any booking enquiries, questions or simply just want to say hi, you can do so with the following links.Please be aware we are not at this time recruiting!
GALLERY (WIP)
Constitution