2025 marks the 250th anniversary of John Baskerville’s death. Baskerville was a Birmingham-based printer, publisher, craftsperson, inventor, and freethinker who was appointed printer to the University of Cambridge (1758-1765) where he printed his magnificent folio Bible. His eponymous typeface is on almost every computer in the world, but he has otherwise been largely forgotten or misremembered.
So, John and his wife Sarah are back on this anniversary to set the story straight on their life and legacy, all while inducting you into their world of printing and craft.
Theatre(ish) invite you to have a go on a real tabletop printing press and consider how Baskerville’s progressive work and values can mean something for our society today.
This show has been inspired by the Birmingham City University and University of Cambridge research project, 'Small Performances', and has been developed from workshops and collaborative creative practice around Baskerville and his will.
It is suitable for families. The development of this show has been supported in collaboration with the University of Cambridge McDonald Institute of Archaeological Research, the University Library, and Birmingham City University. This research project, 'Small Performances' that the performance is connected to is funded by the AHRC.
