Visitors to St George’s can meet characters from Bermuda’s 1775 Gunpowder Plot over the next few weeks.

Several dozen men broke into an unguarded ammunition magazine above Tobacco Bay, St George’s, on August 14, 1775 and stole more than 100 casks of gunpowder and delivered them to American ships waiting offshore.

The stolen powder made it to rebel troops under George Washington and convinced the Continental Congress to lift its crippling wartime embargo on food and supplies to Bermuda, a “loyal” colony.

The Bermuda Tourism Authority and Norwegian Cruise Line is to mark the role the scandal played in the island’s history with a series of cultural tourism events.

Yesterday marked the anniversary of the plot, which tested Bermudian loyalty to the Crown and underscored Bermuda’s close family and commercial ties with North America during its War of Independence with Britain.

The plot also highlighted Bermudians’ support of George Washington’s Continental Army during the 13 colonies’ revolt.

Bermudian actors, dressed in period costume, will help to bring the episode to life, by treating visitors to facts and anecdotes about the event that increased tensions between Bermuda, its governor and the British Government.

The actors will play characters such as the staunch imperialist governor, George James Bruere, and Colonel Henry Tucker, believed to be a conspirator in the plot, in a demonstration from now until Labour Day week, on Mondays and Wednesdays, between 9.30am and 2.30pm.

BTA chief experience development officer Glenn Jones said: “The feedback from store managers and visitors so far has been very positive.

“We’re excited to introduce these initiatives to St George’s and it’s encouraging to see this level of support from stakeholders.”

NCL guests who visit St George’s shops featuring Made in Bermuda work will be rewarded with a Bermuda gift.

Other activities will include a daily Unesco World Heritage Walking Tour, a behind-the-scenes tour of St Peter’s Church and the daily historic re-enactment of the Ducking Stool.

Candy-Lee Foggo, the secretary of the Corporation of St George, said: “We are working to make the town more lively, with craft stalls in King’s Square, including Ashley’s Lemonade, with its refreshing drinks, plus buskers playing throughout the town, which all adds to the ambience.”

The Bermuda National Trust has also opened Tucker House, the historic home where the gunpowder plot conspirators were believed to have met, on Mondays and Wednesdays this month, from 10am to 4pm.

• More information is available at the Visitor Services Centre, York Street, St George, from 10am to 4pm