Happened Here

Bram Stoker worked for the charismatic actor and theatre manager Henry Irving in the 1890s. In gothic style, Becky Stamp considers how Irving’s overbearing presence inspired the character of Count Dracula.

In this special episode, recorded live in front of an audience at the Chalke Valley History Festival, Robbie Stamp introduces three stories from Britain's Anglo Saxon past: Friends Live on Earth - Winflaed’s Will - written and performed by Olivia Bell They Borrowed a Barrow - written and performed by Robbie Stamp Before You Can Beat the Bounds, You Have to Read Them - introduced by historian Alex...

This episode links events that happened in different eras; two actors perform Othello 100 years apart, two musical geniuses live next door, two centuries apart, and one murder leads to ghostly apparitions for over a century. Hosted by Neil Fleming: The Golden Earrings written by Milo Harries, performed by Stephen Fry [The Savoy Theatre, The Strand, and The Theatre Royal, Covent Garden] It’s the Me...

In this episode medieval monks try to make a heaven-sent garden, drugs drag a writer to hell, and Bob Dylan creates a now-iconic short film. Hosted by Kate Reid Gardening for God , written by Sarah Fleming and performed by Kate Reid [Covent Garden] Tales of the Odious Opium Eater , written by Zak Ghazi-Torbati and performed by Stephen Fry [4 York Place, and around Covent Garden] The Anthem of the...

In this episode, travel back to the seventeenth century and meet master-builder Inigo Jones, who has been summoned for a meeting with the Earl of Bedford. Performed by Stephen Fry, hosted by Lulu Freeman and written by Hamish Roberts, this episode charts the conception of the Covent Garden piazza. How would YOU change London [Bedford House, Covent Garden, London] Walking in the Air [The streets of...

In this week’s podcast, Dame Joanna Lumley introduces stories about punishment, prostitution and pugilism: Ritual Humiliation written by Joanna Clarke and performed by Lulu Freeman [Charing Cross, Central London] An Unlikely Purchase written by Sarah Fleming and performed by Olivia Bell [A Coffee House in Bedfordbury, Covent Garden, a Theatre in Lincoln’s Inn Field,  and Holy Trinity Church,...

In this week's episode of HappenedHere, hosted by Stephen Fry, we explore the life of the man who changed the face of clowning forever - Joseph Grimaldi, with three stories written by James Rampton and performed by Dame Joanna Lumley: He Swung Joseph with the Utmost Velocity [Sadlers Wells Theatre, Roseberry Avenue, Clerkenwell, London] Make ‘Em Laugh [Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London] "I make yo...

In this week's episode of HappenedHere, hosted by Stephen Fry, we go on three very different nights out: Ghosts written by Viel Richardson and performed by Olivia Bell [The Queen’s Theatre, Haymarket, London] A Horse in Your Lap, Madam? written by James Rampton and performed by Dame Joanna Lumley [Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London] Stormy Weather written by James Rampton and performed by Jasmine E...

Our latest podcast finds Dame Joanna Lumley introducing three stories about a murder and a reputation restored: ‘Frenzy’ written by Joanna Clarke and performed by Stephen Fry [Covent Garden Piazza by the Floral Market Hall] The Master of Promotion written by Joanna Clarke and performed by Stephen Fry [The Thames by the Houses of Parliament, London] The Critic and the Long Shot written by Joanna Cl...

Robbie Stamp, co-founder of HappenedHere, introduces stories around this iconic London landmark: Why Seven? written by Joanna Clarke performed by Kate Reid The Black Loyalists written by Viel Richardson and performed by Jasmine Elcock An Englishman, an Irishman and a Scotsman walk into a bar… written by Zak Ghazi-Torbati and performed by Stephen Fry All these stories take place at Seven Dials, Lon...

Robbie Stamp considers the rise and fall of an illegal 1930s LGBTQ+ club: The Caravan Club  written by Hamish Roberts and performed by Stephen Fry   [Basement, 81 Endell St, London WC2] Hiding in Plain Sight  written by Hamish Roberts and performed by Stephen Fry [Bow Street, outside the Magistrates Court, Covent Garden] Cyril’s Fragments  written by Hamish Roberts and performe...

Stephen Fry introduces three real forebears to the fictional Eliza Doolittle who were found over the centuries in Covent Garden’s iconic fruit and vegetable market: Corpses and Cucumbers written by Joanna Clarke and performed by Cassius Konneh [Covent Garden Piazza] Cleaning Strawberries written by Joanna Clarke and performed by Lulu Freeman [Covent Garden Piazza] Oi! You! Jollocks! written by Joa...

This week’s episode, hosted by Robbie Stamp, looks at street entertainment throughout the centuries in and around Covent Garden:   A Tom-Tom Player written by Sarah Fleming and performed by Shama Rahman [London’s West End and 55 Albany St NW1] The Sound of a Whole Orchestra written by James Rampton and performed by Lulu Freeman [Covent Garden Piazza] Busking Changes Everything written by Jame...

A massacre on a 18th C British Slave Ship. An unlikely subject for master painter JMW Turner. An abolitionist, Turner used his fame to reignite the memory of this horrific, shameful chapter in British history. A Massacre first brought to the public eye by freedman Olaudah Equiano. In association with The Barbican. Sound editing by Viel Richardson.

Jasmine Elcock hosts this week’s episode of our witty and enlightening podcast, we go there and back again with a very precious club in the 1960s: A Trip to Middle Earth written by James Rampton and performed by Stephen Fry A Painted Tear written by Hamish Roberts and performed by Zak Ghazi-Torbati “I could see everyone’s fillings falling out” written by James Rampton and performed by Jasmine Elco...

This week we look at Princess Diana and (more closely) her 18th Century forebear/ancestor, Georgiana, and reflect on what it is to be a woman in the full glare of the media and public view. Hosted by Shama Rahman. Parallel Lives written by Holly Harland and performed by Dame Joanna Lumley [Kensington Palace and Devonshire House, Central London] She Had to Sit on the Floor written by Holly Har...

In this week’s episode, hosted by Stephen Fry, discover how Covent Garden adapted to the trials and tribulations thrown it’s way by Britain’s fight against Nazi Germany: Put on Your Dancing Shoes written and performed by Joanna Clarke [The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden] Mrs Smith’s Coffin written by Joanna Clarke and performed by Stephen Fry [Dawlish, Devon and Covent Garden, London] Keeping Ca...

In the first episode of our second season, hosted by the celebrated Dame Joanna Lumley, we look at Covent Garden's vice industry in the eighteenth century: Haddock Hogarth and Harlots written by Jasmine Silk and performed by Lulu Freeman [Covent Garden Piazza] Mrs Jenkins' Flogging House written by Joanna Clarke and performed by Stephen Fry [27 Catherine Street] Carnal Pleasures written by Robbie...

Three percent of London’s population was black in the eighteenth century. Your host Stephen Fry introduces: An Enslaved Child and His Two Inheritances written by Milo Harries and performed by Cassius Konneh [17 Gough Square, Holborn, London] A Genius in Bondage written by Sara Fleming and performed by Jasmine Elcock [the Tower of London] Beethoven Could Not Believe His Ears written by James Rampto...

“The public is wonderfully tolerant. It forgives everything except genius”. This week we look at the downfall of Oscar Wilde with host Dame Joanna Lumley: Intrigue for Intrigue’s Sake written by Jasmine Silk and performed by Stephen Fry [Mayfair, Picadilly and Covent Garden] Still the Sight to See in London written by Jasmine Silk and performed by Stephen Fry [Holding Cell, Magistrate’s Court, Bow...

“Fame will go by and, so long, I’ve had you, Fame”. Host Dr Shama Rahman looks at people who were famous in their time, but have faded from memory, with: The Diva and Her Diamonds written by Sarah Fleming and performed by Dame Joanna Lumley [Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London] Not a Page in Petticoats written and performed by Kate Reid [Theatre Royal, Vere Street, London] I Have Been a Slave...

For this week’s episode we journey back in time with host Dame Joanna Lumley to Anglo-Saxon London, with: Wattle, Wyrms and Wyrd Sisters written by Robbie Stamp and performed by Shama Rahman [under the foundations of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London] The Lay of Nine Herbs written by Robbie Stamp and performed by Olivia Bell [Maiden Lane, Covent Garden] Run For Your Life written by Robb...

This week’s episode does exactly what it says on the tin, as host Stephen Fry bobs about with: Go On Then, Impress Us written by James Rampton and performed by Cassius Konneh [Peckham Manor School, south east London and the Lyceum Ballroom, Wellington Street, Covent Garden, London] Not Your Usual Busker written by James Rampton and performed by Dame Joanna Lumley [near Covent Garden tube station,...

In this episode, with host Dame Joanna Lumley, we look at seventeenth and eighteenth century celebrity criminals, with: The Highwayman of Hearts written by Olivia Bell and performed by Joanna Clarke. [Hampstead Heath, Chandos Place and St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden] The Pregnant Pickpocket with Four Hands written by Olivia Bell and performed by Lulu Freeman. [Lodgings in Long Acre and in and aro...

In this episode, hosted by Robbie Stamp, we look at the history of the Covent Garden Piazza, with: This Beautiful Fruitful Rectangle written by Robbie Stamp, performed by Stephen Fry [Covent Garden Piazza, London] A Much Tidier View for the Duke written by Joanna Clarke, performed by Jasmine Elcock [Covent Garden Piazza, London] Concrete Garden Anyone? written by Joanna Clarke, performed by Dame J...