UK LARP history

CJ has in March 2015 started to collect resources on UK LARP History on what may well become a more formal project, or be quietly abandoned, in the future. So far I have collected only names and dates for various strands of UK LARP, and tried to put links as I can find them. I have designated conatct larops where fighting with larp weapons occurs as CLARPS, and non-combat systems by various labels.

1982

April 1982 Treasure Trap Fantasy CLARP founded at Peckforton Castle - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treasure_Trap by Peter Carey and Rob Donaldson [Source: Wikipedia, Treasure Trap]

Steve Jackson Games publish Killer; this book codifies a US college game known by many names - == Cheltenham Freeforms ==. Many games were tun across UK campuses and schools as a result - my own included Romeo & Juliet meet the Verona Chainsaw Massacre, a Killer variant with rules for tragic romance that ran in the King Edward VI Upper School in 1985. I would be interested in hearing more about peoples experiences playing variants in the UK.

1983

February - Durham University Treasure Trap created for purpose or arranging trips to Peckforton. At this stage they do not run their own events? Still going today, the longest surviving UK Fantasy CLARP system. [Source: Wikipedia, Treasure Trap]

1985

Peter Garner starts overground Fantasy CLARPS in Kent, under the name Garner Adventure Tours http://www.labyrinthe.co.uk/introduction/history/

Treasure Trap closes after losing access to Peckforton Castle & financial issues. [Source: Wikipedia, Treasure Trap]

Durham University Treasure Trap begin running their own events. 30 years on they are still running weekly events as part of Durham University Student Union. The oldest continually operating Fantasy CLARP group in the UK? [Source: Wikipedia, Treasure Trap]

Birmingham University Treasure Trap was again a group of enthusiasts from Treasure Trap who responded to the closure of Peckforton by running their own Fantasy CLARP games, lasting till 2002. [Source: Wikipedia, Treasure Trap]

Garner Adventure Tours moves to Chislehurst Caves, and is renamed Labyrinthe http://www.labyrinthe.co.uk/introduction/history/

1985

Pete Garner leaves Labyrinthe and former player and staffer Jan Mc Mannus takes over; Alan Morgan deals with the innovation of Play By Mail downtime, keeping your character involved between adventures. http://www.labyrinthe.co.uk/introduction/history/

The Nameless Anarchist Horde's CJ & Hugh Wake run Cthulhu at Halloween '85, a one of Cthulhu CLARP in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. The game is set in the modern era, and features 6 investigators, NPC ghouls and a 2 person carried shoggoth costume worthy of an Ed Wood film.

2001

Simon Morgan, owner of Eldrith a CLARP kit kit company takes over Labyrinthe from Jan Mc Mannus. http://www.labyrinthe.co.uk/introduction/history/

2002

Cambridge University Treasure Trap Fantasy CLARP founded by former Durham players Jennifer Curtis and Toni Badnall. Continues till 2014. [Source: Wikipedia, Treasure Trap]

Birmingham University Treasure Trap run their last event. [Source: Wikipedia, Treasure Trap]

2006

Phil Branscombe, Duncan Mathias and Andy Byatt take over Fantasy CLARP Labyrinthe which becomes Labyrinthe UK Ltd and runs to present day. http://www.labyrinthe.co.uk/introduction/history/

2012

SWATT set up by Stephen Begley at Susses University, a former member of CUTT. Fantasy CLARP [Source: Wikipedia, Treasure Trap]