Film Reenactments and Role Play

There have been several interesting reenactment documentaries where modern volunteers explore role playing in various eras. Attempts are made at accuracy, but of course they are aware they are pretending and comment on the progress of their adventures. Still, it can illustrate some of the difficulties and challenges of the life. Some videos are available for purchase and some can be found on streaming services such as Amazon, PBS, BBC, and Acorn TV. Some are free to watch on YouTube.

The 1900s House featured a modern family living like late Victorians in 1900s for three months in a modified house. https://www.amazon.com/1900-House-Extraordinary-Living-Experiment/dp/B00004U2K7

The 1940s House follows one modern family facing the challenges of domestic life on Britain's home front in a recreation of a World War II household.  https://www.amazon.com/1940s-House-Geoffrey-Palmer/dp/B0000AYL47/

At Home With The Georgians reconstructs the 18th Century Georgian and traces the unique relationship Britons enjoyed with their homes, arguing that the Georgians' obsession with decor helped to redefine the parts played by men and women in British society. Characters from all walks of life, including gentlewomen in their stately mansions and servants with only a locking box to call their own, are brought to life as Amanda reveals the private diaries, intimate letters and curious artifacts of the age where the modern notion of a 'home' was born. https://www.amazon.com/At-Home-Georgians/dp/B008F0QBO6/

The Colonial House featured families recreating daily life in 1628 on an isolated stretch of Maine coast, creating a functioning and profitable colony using only the tools and technology of the era.  https://www.amazon.com/Colonial-House/dp/B0002BO07Q/

The Edwardian Farm followed three archaeologists as they spend a year attempting to live as Edwardian farmers in the early 1900s. https://www.amazon.com/Edwardian-Farm/dp/B00CAT3TCU/

The Frontier House featured a family attempting to live like the early settlers in 1880 Montana without modcons, off-screen assistance, etc. https://www.amazon.com/Frontier-House-Kristen-Brooks/dp/B00008G7JA/

The Manor House follows nineteen Britons as they live as the Lord and Lady and their servants in early 1900s England. https://www.amazon.com/Manor-House-Tristan-Aldrich/dp/B00009K77X

Pioneer Quest follows two couples as they assume the lives of early settlers to the West.  https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Quest-Full-Nine-Part/dp/B00K6MPBN8/

The River Cottage follow Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's experiment of living off the land in Dorset through three seasons of challenges. https://www.amazon.com/Cottage-Collection-Escape-Return-Forever/dp/B000TGL9YQ/

Secrets of the Castle follows life in a medieval castle.  https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Castle-DVD-Stuart-Elliott/dp/B00PYMP7

The Texas Ranch House follows fifteen people as they struggle to run a real-life ranch in Texas. https://www.amazon.com/Texas-Ranch-House/dp/B000FGG5MQ/

Tudor Monastery Farm Pre-Reformation England emerged as a fundamentally different society, with Catholicism and its rites infusing every element of daily life. As tenant farmers Goodman, Ginn, and a newcomer to the series, archaeologist Tom Pinfold, worked land owned by the local Benedictine monastery, and paid their rent in wool. https://www.amazon.com/Tudor-Monastery-Farm-NON-USA-Kingdom/dp/B00H1U4VLQ/

The Victorian Pharmacy shows what it was like to run a pharmacy before modern medical advances. https://www.amazon.com/Victorian-Pharmacy-Region-UK/dp/B003U6PIHQ/

The Victorian Slum House explores life in the not so gentle London slums. https://www.amazon.com/Victorian-Slum-House-DVD-n/dp/B01MVAPRXN/

Wartime Farm replicates WWII Britain's agricultural and domestic challenges. Three individuals spent a year living on a reconstructed farm from the era. https://www.amazon.com/Wartime-Farm-Peter-Ginn/dp/1845337085/

Vintage Civil War History Reenactment is reenactments of Civil War  Battles and the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln. https://www.amazon.com/Vintage-History-Reenactment-Reenactments-Gettysburg/dp/B01GUOTTOM

Next week, we look at Virtual Reality tours.

For advanced worldbuilding check out SBB Build A World Workbook in print and ebook.