Tag: Old Operating Theatre

Hospital Ballroom Blitz: The Old Operating Theatre Museum Late

Published on 04th September 2023

Join the Old Operating Theatre this Autumn Equinox for a trip back to 1945! For one night only,  the museum will be transformed into a ballroom where you’ll learn the Charleston Stroll (a non-partner dance). Guests should come dressed appropriately for a 1945 ballroom extravaganza. Dance teachers will be on site to teach the steps, but if you want a preview you can check out this video . About the event: 5:45 pm: Doors open. 6:00 pm: Welcome Speech and distribution of red and blue ribbons. 6:15 pm: Red ribbon group learns the Charleston Stroll in the Operating Theatre/Blue ribbon group has drinks and workshop activities in the Garret. 6:45pm: Groups Swap! 7:15-8:30 pm: Dance! Dance! Dance! Meanwhile: The Apothecary Bar is opened until 8:10 pm. Drink tokens can be purchased at Front of House (thematic cocktail £6). Time to look at the exhibitions. (Be advised that we do not allow any drinks in the Old Operating Theatre itself). 8:30 pm: Event ends, but you can continue the party at Amazing Grace below us if you are so inclinded! Tickets/find out more 

Tidal Traces at the Old Operating Theatre

Published on 31st August 2023

Tidal Traces draws attention to issues relating to the River Thames through a series of free-hanging installations, time-lapse video at the Old Operating Theatre Museum and workshop. Irma Irsara continues her exploration of environmental issues, looking at material that finds its way into the Thames through natural phenomena and human activity, and the impact on the health of the river’s eco-system and the surrounding population. She recovers debris from the foreshore to create work using video, cyanography, chromatography and micrography to represent both the visible and the invisible, in particular micro fibre plastic and pharmaceutical contaminants. Dates and Times Fri 1st – Sat 30th Sep 2023 10:30am – 5pm Book tickets Museum opening times: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 10.30am – 5.00pm (last admission is 4.15pm) Drop-in family workshop: Sunday 3 September 2023, 11am – 4.30pm available with paid entry to the museum Entry price to the museum for exhibition and workshop Adult: £7.50 Concessions: £6.00 Child 6-16 years: £4.50 Children under 6 years: Free Carers (with a full paying adult, concession or child ticket): Free Family (2 adults, 2 children): £18.00, additional child, £1 each

Medi-Culture Festival 2022

Published on 04th October 2022

This October, a celebration of health is coming to London Bridge. From Victorian surgery demonstrations at the world’s oldest surviving operating theatre to medical stand-up and anatomical drawing classes, Medi-Culture Festival 2022 offers an exciting line-up of live events, talks, walks, workshops, stories and stand-up, all FREE to book. LINE UP  World-leading medical and scientific sites such as Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospitals and King’s College London will take their stories, ideas, thoughts and innovations directly to audiences. alongside cultural partners such as the Old Operating Theatre Museum & Herb Garret, Florence Nightingale Museum, Gordon Museum and Science Gallery London. Tickets and all festival details are available now from https://www.teamlondonbridge.co.uk/mediculturefest22

Welcome Back: The Old Operating Theatre

Published on 20th July 2020

Uncategorised

As the London Bridge business community springs back to life, we check in with some of our favourite neighbourhood gems to see what’s in store for visitors looking forward to rediscovering the area post-lockdown.  This week we speak to Monica and Sarah at The Old Operating Theatre Museum & Herb Garret ahead of their opening on July 25th.   The Old Operating Theatre’s Lockdown Experience Although the past 3 months have been challenging for the museum, we’ve had the opportunity to make lots of new friends in the digital world who we’re looking forward to working with in person and welcoming to the museum when we reopen. The support from our community has been brilliant; we’ve received lots of great feedback from those who have been participating in our weekly social activities, like the #MondayChallenge jigsaw puzzle, of getting active with our Victorian Parlour Games. Earlier in July, we also found out our shop had been shortlisted for a Museums + Heritage Award, which we’re really excited about! Shortly after this we launched our online shop, thanks to many individuals who generously donated towards the cost.  The shop has a great selection of bespoke products and gifts, and all sales go towards supporting the upkeep of the museum. In April we also took part in the first National Oddity Championships on Twitter which was great fun and a great way to keep the spirit of the museum alive while our doors have been closed.  The competition saw 17 museums and heritage sites across the country put forward a quirky item from their collection to compete for the title and brought together thousands of people who voted and supported our entry, including many well known authors, bloggers and other ambassadors. What can visitors look forward to?   Visitors can look forward to the full Old Operating Theatre experience! The 45 minute tour gives a unique insight into the history of medicine and surgery, complete with free wifi and a brand new QR code trail.  Each group will also receive a free local history map of the local area for visitors to explore London Bridge. We are also planning to offer a longer local history staff-led tour, and a live evening Victorian Surgery demonstration. Stay tuned! Which place in London Bridge are you looking forward to visiting again the most? The Old Op team are very proud of the local area, its community, history, neighbourhood and vibrancy. We can’t wait be out and about again, visiting the Science Gallery London, grabbing a coffee down Bermondsey Street, lunch from Borough Market, admiring the view of Southwark Cathedral, and of course, supporting the many public houses in the area! Tickets are available to book now for July 25th onwards. Opening Hours:  Saturday 10.30am – 5pm Sunday 10.30am – 5pm The Old Operating Theatre have taken care to ensure the way we reopen is in line with Government Guidance and sector specific advice to make it a safe and enjoyable visit for you, as well as a positive environment for our team. You can read more about our Covid-19 Safe Opening here.

The Old Operating Theatre Halloween Extravaganza

Published on 30th July 2019

The Old Operating Theatre Halloween Extravaganza: Victorian Surgery & The Rude Mechanicals Get ready for an unforgettable night! Grab a drink from the Apothecary Wine Bar and enjoy exclusive access to the museum and collection before you’re treated to a Victorian Speed Surgery Demonstration followed by an immersive art and musical performance by the Rude Mechanicals Duo. Find out more Tickets: £20.00 *Access is through a 52-step spiral staircase.

Talks at The Old Operating Theatre

Housed in the attic of the early eighteenth-century church of the old St Thomas’ Hospital, this atmospheric museum offers a unique insight into the history of medicine and surgery. The Old Operating Theatre and Herb Garrett hosts a series of themed evening talks and Q&As on fascinatlingly morbid topics ranging from the fear of ressurection to the bubonic plague… Click here to see current talks.

Mad Love: Valentine’s screening at The Old Operating Theatre

Published on 29th January 2019

The annual Valentine’s Day horror screening returns to the Old Operating Theatre. “Completely horrible” – Time Magazine. The British Board of Film Classification originally intended to ban ‘Mad Love’ (1935); a deranged inspection of Grand Guignol villainy. An accomplished but lustful surgeon (Peter Lorre in arguably his greatest performance) is driven to psychotic behaviour over his perverse obsession with an actress. A hugely successful example of 1930’s horror at its most unhinged and portentously Germanic, this tale of madness, murder, dismemberment and forced love is also a wicked, penetrative chunk of psychological study. The film will be preceded by an introduction by Gareth Miles. Doors will open at 6:30 PM. Tickets: £12.00

Talk: The Fear of Being Buried Alive at The Old Operating Theatre

Published on 07th January 2019

Join Kirsty Chilton, assistant curator and museum researcher at The Old Operating Theatre, for a fascinating talk: The Fear of Being Buried Alive: A Georgian & Victorian Perspective Book tickets At a time when levels of consciousness were poorly understood, determining when someone was actually dead was an imperfect science. It still can be. The fear of being buried alive and of a desperate struggle to free yourself from your own grave was always present and retains it’s power today. This is a talk about some of the possible – and probable – incidences of people being buried alive or escaping from their own grave in the 18th and 19th century, and some ways to protect yourself from this fate… Doors will open at 6:30 PM. The talk will begin at 7:00 PM.  Tickets: £12.00 *Access is through a 52-step spiral staircase. Please, visit our Visiting Us page for further details on access.

A Mad Hatter’s Tea Party at The Old Operating Theatre

Published on 04th July 2018

For one night only the Old Operating Theatre Museum’s Herb Garret will transform itself to accommodate a very special Mad Hatter’s Tea Party! It would be only appropriate that this experience will have specialty teas, including herbal ones inspired by the Herb Garret. In addition, guests will be able to choose from a range of amazing homemade baked goods and savoury treats to nibble on. While in the Museum, guests will be welcomed to follow the white rabbit to learn about 19th century insane remedies to cure everything and listen to an alternative take of Alice Adventures in Wonderland in the Operating Theatre. An imaginative experience that promises to be unforgettable. Limited spaces available Price: £25 *Access to the museum is through a 52-step spiral staircase.