'Exit, pursued by a Bear'

A quiet pint in a cosy pub seemed like a fair reward for a brisk Boxing Day walk with the family. Sitting in the window seat we could eavesdrop on a lethargic conversation at the bar while one or two regulars brooded quietly in their favourite corners. Then a bear strolled across the pedestrian crossing and headed for the door of the pub.

Our glasses were fairly empty by now and I’d just started to read a Harry Potter book that morning (guess what was in my Christmas stocking!), so the sight of a bear nonchalantly crossing the road didn’t seem to be all that unusual. However, when he was followed by Beelzebub, Saint George and someone with flowing robes and a lot of ivy growing out of his beard it became clear that we were about to be invaded.

Within seconds the pub was full of a colourful troupe of Mummers acting out their play. After a prologue to the beat of a drum, the Turkish Knight challenged Saint George, was slain and then brought back to life by the Doctor. St. George and the Dragon (a woman) then wrestled until the Dragon was also slain and our hero won the fair hand of the King of Egypt’s daughter (a man). I’m not quite sure what the Bear, Beelzebub and Robin Hood had to do with anything but they were all in there too! We were all encouraged to join in, just like in a panto, and the Mummers wassailed loudly to a successful conclusion – free drinks for the players and a collection for charity. The whole thing was loud, boisterous and hugely enjoyable, just the thing to wake us from our Boxing Day torpor!

English folk plays, often called Mummers' Plays, are short traditional verse sketches performed at Christmas, Easter and other festivals in pubs and private houses. Not long ago it was thought that they originated from pagan fertility rituals but current academic research (yes, it’s all taken very seriously!) says that they’re mostly of eighteenth century origin. Anyone can have a go and just as in a pantomime there are the typically English traditions of women dressing up as men and men as women. Costumes either caricature the role or can be an all-purpose smock covered with paper or cloth strips, sometimes obscuring the character’s face.

So why don’t we have a go at a Mummer’s Play next Boxing Day? (perhaps with a repeat at the Players’ 2003 Music Hall) Half a dozen volunteers would cover all the major roles and we could visit various houses or venues around the village to perform and collect for charity. Improvisation is a key element so rehearsals can be brief, costumes could be made up fairly easily and there are dozens of royalty-free scripts on the Internet. Drinks at each house would be optional, but very welcome! Let me know if you think it’s a good idea and we’ll try to get something going – you too could be seeing bears next Boxing Day!