Magic, Mischief,
and a Palace Full of Beasts.
Winter Palace: The Christmas Beast Ball
Writer / Director
Opening this November at Hampton Court Palace
I wrote and directed Winter Palace: The Christmas Beast Ball; building the world, lore, and ten original beasts and characters, each with custom backstories, distinct personalities, and interactive audience dynamics.
The Brief was to attract new family audiences to one of Britain’s most historic landmarks. Rather than a traditional history lesson, we created a magical overlay; presenting Hampton Court Palace as a realm where secret creatures have always lived, just waiting to be discovered.
The Narrative Design
Free-Flowing Exploration: Visitors explore the palace at their own pace in any order, free from rigid schedules or room-by-room paths.
Nonlinear Storytelling: The overarching narrative seamlessly connects, regardless of the direction a family takes.
Modular Encounters: Each beast offers a rich, standalone interaction that functions on its own while contributing to the broader story unfolding across the visit.
Book Tickets — Winter Palace: The Christmas Beast Ball
Hampton Court Palace, 28 November 2026 — 3 January 2027. Included in palace admission.
What I Delivered.
Ten original beasts and characters — concept, backstory, personality, and story for each
Script and narrative framework designed to hold across a non-linear, free-flowing audience experience
Auditions and casting across the full character company
Character development sessions and actor handbooks
Direction of live performance across the full palace.
Why It Works.
The palace is the world, not just the backdrop; the beasts belong to Hampton Court
Ten characters means something different to find on every visit
Free-flowing format puts the audience in control of their own story
Designed specifically to bring new family audiences to a historic site — magic first, history always present
Live interaction over scripted flow; every encounter is genuinely different