A uniquely British tradition will be coming to Wokingham on Thursday night as Christmas play is performed.
The Yateley Village Mummers will be bringing their Mummers Play to four town centre pubs on December 17, offering a fun play that sees a fight between good and evil, Santa and … King George.
The play, which is thought to date back to the late 18th century, is based on a traditional story and features swords, Father Christmas, shield, death and a happy ending.
The programme:
- 8pm The Victoria Arms, Easthampstead Road
- 8.45pm The Ship Inn, Peach Street
- 9.20pm The Redan, Peach Street
- 10pm The Gig House, The Plaza, off Denmark Street
In a flyer for the gig, the Yateley Morris Men note:
“You, the audience, are a vital part in this knockabout festive fun. We hope that you will enjoy the 38th year of this lively performance, which perpetuates our local custom in our area. A few years ago, we performed at the Police College in Bramshill, and an elderly member of the staff there could remember the words of the play from the mummers who visited the Cope family at Bramshill House in her childhood. Mummers, also known as (dis)Guizers, used to mime the plays, hence the phrase ‘mum’s the word’!”
The performers will be the Yateley Village Mummers – aka members of Yateley Morris Men – which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
More mumming: Boxing day and New Year’s Day
It’s a busy time of year for the popular side. They will be back in action on Boxing Day, with a an hour of morris dancing and another performance of the Mummers Play from noon, outside St Peter’s Church in Yateley and close to the Dog and Patridge pub.
At 1.15pm on Boxing Day, they’ll head to the Frog and Wicket where they will give a performance.
On New Year’s Day, they will appear at The Cricketers at Hartley Wintney with a Mummers Play that starts at 1pm.
And on Twelfth Night – January 6 – the group will embark on what it says will be an ‘epic tour’ of local pubs to perform the Mummers Play.
