Join Chanctonbury Ring Morris on Boxing Day, as they perform their famous Mumming Play.
The Morris side will be dancing Cotsworld, and performing the play at 2 locations:
11am: The Castle Inn, Bramber (BN44 3WE)
12:30pm: The Frankland Arms Washington (RH20 4AL)
This will be followed by Carol Singing in The Frankland Arms
What is a Mumming Play?
Mumming plays are a type of drama which was historically performed by local men (rather than professional actors) at specific times of the year such as Boxing Day, Easter, or Halloween. In the 18th and 19th centuries mumming plays were part of a wider number of cadging activities. They were performed on the street, in pubs, and in people’s homes, in return for money, food and drink. In the past, the plays were not performed in the naturalistic manner that we see in theatre or in films today. It is thought that people would have declaimed their lines, speaking the words loudly and clearly, perhaps stepping forward for their part, but making no attempt to be realistic.
The most common type of mumming drama is known as the hero-combat play. This has a hero (often St George) facing an opponent who is killed and then brought back to life.