David Allen

Speaker Bio

David Allen’s talks are not to be missed, and as an audience member you are guaranteed to come away in a good mood, almost always having learnt something, from Victorian history through to film set gossip about Hollywood greats.

With over 10 years experience, London born David is a very popular public speaker, who is the perfect combination of being both hugely knowledgeable and a very skilled and entertaining storyteller.

Funny, light hearted, but meticulously well researched, his talks are both fun and thought provoking, and are either taken from his own life experience - travelling the world, or in his professional life as a solicitor, actor & professional storyteller – or are based on hours, days and weeks of tireless historical research, trawling through the archives and records dating back to the 1800s.

A performer at heart, David has appeared in a variety of shows for children and adults, including his one man storytelling shows on factual Victorian Murders. With other theatre companies, David has employed his gift for improvisation in various plays with a particular focus on immersive theatre, such as the award nominated Jack the Ripper’s London and Follow the Rabbit.

LIST OF TALKS

Blood, Guts & Gore - True Murder in Victorian England

David Allen tells a meticulously-researched, blood-curdling tale of an eccentric, bad-tempered widow who hires the perfect servant, without taking up references...

The Amazing Mr. Dickens!    

An affectionate romp through the life of the world’s greatest storyteller, Charles John Huffam Dickens. From his early childhood working in a factory, short-lived employment as a legal clerk, to his illustrious life as a writer, journalist, social reformer, publisher, and much more. With readings from some of his most popular works, including Oliver Twist and Great Expectations.   

Black Teeth & Dirty Fingernails: The Great Unwashed of Victorian London   

While the wealthy privileged few were contemplating which bonnet to wear that day, thousands of ordinary people were living in cramped, vermin-ridden slums and workhouses where crime, hunger, and vice were the norms. Using eyewitness accounts, David reveals the grim but fascinating lives of the Victorian underclass, in their brutal struggle to survive.   Powerpoint presentation.

Two Wicked Gentlemen of Victorian England

Meet two gentlemen with one word on the tip of their tongues…Murder! True gripping tales of murder, meticulously researched from contemporaneous records, court reports, and newspapers. 

The Weird & Wonderful World of The Law    

Great fun and plenty of laughs! An enjoyable romp through the legal world: drawing on over 25 years as a locum solicitor travelling around the country, encountering raging judges, dotty clients, and weird cases.  Join David on a sideways journey through bizarre true-life oddities, daft old laws still in place, and political correctness gone raving mad!    

The Life of Agatha Christie   
A fascinating visual presentation on the world-famous crime writer, exploring her incredible life including her mysterious disappearance and the inspiration for her most famous characters. 

The Making of Casablanca   

A behind-the-scenes look at one of the world’s most romantic films. Sit back and enjoy the story of this back-lot B movie which became a classic from the golden age of Hollywood,  forever remembered for its incredible cast of Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet, and the song… 'As Time Goes By.’

The Making of The Wizard of Oz 

A behind-the-scenes look at the iconic ‘Wizard of Oz’. Watch clips from the film, hear about the book, the author and the team of screenwriters, and the original Broadway play from the turn of the 20th century. And of course, you’ll meet Judy Garland… 

The Making of Zulu 

One of the most popular action films of all time. Find out the real story that inspired this classic film, with clips and stories of how the film was made.