This is London Magazine June Edition 2026 - Flipbook - Page 12
DINOSAURS AT BLENHEIM PALACE
Blenheim Palace has teamed up with
Future Fossils to present Dinosaurs Are
Forever, a world-class exhibition
showcasing full-scale dinosaur
sculptures created by artist Jay Jay
Burridge. From 11 August, five
reimagined Megalosaurus skeletons will
be located in the grounds of the
UNESCO World Heritage Site in
Oxfordshire, the birthplace of dinosaurs.
Two centuries ago, just outside
Blenheim Palace in the village of
Stonesfield, the very first named
dinosaur, Megalosaurus, was discovered
and eighteen years later, in 1824,
Megalosaurus was grouped with
Iguanodon and Hylaeosaurus and
collectively named ‘Dinosaurs’ as we
know them today. By 1852, the
fascination with dinosaurs swept the
globe. The fossil remains of
Megalosaurus are now on display at the
Museum of Natural History, University of
Oxford.
Fabricated by a network of artisans
and advanced manufacturing specialists,
using the same tools, materials and
processes found in high-performance
motorsport, engineering and aerospace,
the sculptures in the exhibition, in
partnership with the Museum of Natural
History, University of Oxford, will bring
together decades of artistic exploration
centred on dinosaurs, storytelling and
immersive art.
Jay Jay Burridge is a British artist,
designer, author and former BBC
presenter. He first gained recognition for
large-scale toy-inspired sculptures,
before being recruited by the BBC to
write and present the acclaimed
children’s art programme SMart. His
career has since taken him across art,
fashion, design and publishing,
including a collaboration with Jamie
Oliver, a Beverly Hills solo exhibition
with Lazarides Gallery, and the
internationally published six-book
adventure series The World of
Supersaurs.
He commented: ‘Until now, these
dinosaurs existed only in my
imagination. These sculptures connect
the birthplace of dinosaurs with the
technologies shaping our future. If
Megalosaurus began our understanding
of ancient life, the sculptures imagine
where the modern world might go next.
This project takes the first dinosaur and
rebuilds it through the lens of modern
engineering, asking not what dinosaurs
were, but what they could become.’
Admission to the Dinosaurs Are
Forever exhibition will be free with any
valid Blenheim Palace ticket.
Blenheim Palace, located in
Oxfordshire, England, is a magnificent
UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in
the 18th century, it is the birthplace of
Winston Churchill and features stunning
architecture and gardens.
To find out more and to book tickets,
visit: www.blenheimpalace.com/whatson/events/dinosaurs-are-forever.html
TITANIQUE – A THEATRICAL
SPECTACLE
The West End sensation Titaníque is
continuing its remarkable success story,
with producers Eva Price and Michael
Harrison announcing an extension of the
Olivier Award-winning musical comedy
at London’s Criterion Theatre until
January 2027. Alongside the booking
extension, a host of new cast members
are set to join the production, further
cementing the show’s reputation as one
of the capital’s most entertaining
theatrical experiences.
Among the most notable additions is
etiquette expert and podcast host William
Hanson (until 19 July), best known for the
globally popular Help I Sexted My Boss.
Hanson will appear in the role of Ruth for
a limited six-week engagement from 9
June to 19 July. Commenting on his
casting, Hanson described the production
as ‘gloriously bonkers’ and praised its
unique blend of comedy, spectacle and
theatrical chaos. Joining Hanson are
Lewis Francis as The Iceberg and Nikki
Wheeldon as Molly Brown.
Since premiering Off-Broadway in
2022, the production has enjoyed
international acclaim, with successful
runs in New York, Paris, Sydney and
Toronto, before making its Broadway
debut in 2026 with four Tony Award
nominations.
london.titaniquemusical.com
T H I S I S L O N D O N M A G A Z I N E • T H I S I S L O N D O N O N L I N E • w w w. t i l . c o m • @ t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g
Photo: Mark Senior
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