Extinction and a pandemic were never going to stop them!
At last, from Monday July 18 at 12 noon, dinosaurs from the Natural History Museum will be on show to the public at Peterborough Cathedral.
The touring exhibition T.rex: The Killer Question will be displayed in the iconic 900-year-old- building throughout the school summer holidays, until September 3. In it you can see roaring and moving animatronic dinosaur scenes, a 12-metre-long static model of a T. rex and a life-size replica of a T. rex skeleton.
Photo: © The Natural History Museum London
The medieval Cathedral location will be the last chance to see the exhibition in its current form. Having toured internationally for 15 years and been seen by more than 3 million people, T.rex: The Killer Question it is to be retired by the Natural History Museum as a touring exhibition.
Photo: © The Natural History Museum London
Dr Doug Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum said - “I am delighted to see our T.rex: The Killer Question exhibition reaching new audiences in the magnificent setting of Peterborough Cathedral. Visitors of all ages will undoubtedly enjoy delving into the history of this fascinating theropod in this engaging exhibition. I hope this will inspire them to find out more about natural history and to become an advocate for nature at a truly critical time for our planet.”
The exhibition poses the killer question: Was T.rex a ferocious hunter or a mere scavenger? You can compare the behaviour of several different dinosaur species with T.rex to see what they can learn. You’ll be able to look at the evidence, decide whether you think T.rex was a predator or a scavenger, then cast your vote.
Photo: © The Natural History Museum London
The Very Revd Chris Dalliston, Dean of Peterborough, said - “We’ve been planning for this exhibition since 2019 but nothing quite prepares you for the sight of these spectacular models in the historic, sacred space of the Cathedral. We hope that people, particularly families during the summer holidays, will come to be entertained and be fascinated by the sheer scale, not just of the dinosaurs but also the Cathedral itself and the God that inspired people to build it.”
Activities during the exhibition include ‘Dino Window Wednesdays’ at St John’s Church on Cathedral Square. These free drop-in sessions, organised jointly by the Church and the Cathedral, are for families to enjoy a ‘stained glass’ craft activity and refreshments.
There will also be a short series of talks in late August, picking up some Other Killer Questions raised by the exhibition. On August 23, Tony Juniper, CEO of Natural England will talk on ‘What is really happening to our planet’?
Then on August 30, Canon Andy Bryant of Norwich Cathedral will tackle the question ‘In the beginning God created… dinosaurs?’ A special podcast in the acclaimed GodPod series is also being prepared, for release on August 5. This will pick up some of the more theological questions posed by visitors after seeing the exhibition.
Photo: © The Natural History Museum London
Entry to the exhibition is by timed ticket and booking in advance is recommended to avoid queueing at the ticket desk in the Cathedral. Tickets are £6 for children, £8 for adults or £25 for a family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children, or 1 adult and up to 4 children). You can book online at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/cathedral-dinos.
The Cathedral is particularly grateful to the companies which are supporting the exhibition through practical help or financial contributions, including Anglian Compressors, Elite Electrical, Optimum Electrics, Gap Lifting, The Peterborough School, Henson Crisp, Speed Agency and Ecclesiastical.
Check out our ESP What's On guide https://www.espmag.co.uk/whats-on to find more dinosaur related events in the city to enjoy this summer.