FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 11th December 2006

600 YEAR OLD WILTSHIRE TRADITION ENDANGERED BY NEW LICENSING LAWS


The Potterne Mummers Play has been performed annually for hundreds of years but it is now under threat from the 2003 Licensing Act. Recognising the importance of our heritage, the Act allows some traditional events, such as Morris Dancing, to take place without a license, but not these traditional English Folk Plays. Potterne's Mumming play, much like up to 300 others played throughout the country each year, has 7 members of cast and takes just 15 minutes to perform.

The present day Potterne Mummers are carrying on a tradition that goes back to 1406 making this the 600th year that the play has been performed in and around Potterne. Mummer Bob Berry said, "This is part of our cultural heritage and it should not be lost." A more recent, but every bit as important, tradition for the Potterne Mummers is their annual collection for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance. Last year the Potterne Mummers raised nearly £1000 during collections at the numerous Wiltshire pubs they visited in the days running up to Christmas.

But now they can only perform in pubs that have ticked the box for performing plays on their entertainment license. Unfortunately, most local publicans, breweries and other establishments left this crucial box un-ticked. Many pubs thought that Mumming Plays would, understandably, come under the same exemption as Morris Dancing. Sadly they were wrong.
To make a variation in any license the establishment currently has in place would now cost in the region of £190 plus costs.

Potterne Mummers are now faced with the prospect of not performing their centuries old play or encouraging the individual pubs to apply for a temporary event notice (TEN). These come at a cost of £21 for each venue.

Potterne Mummers were hoping to perform their fifteen minute comic play at 23 pubs between the 19th and 24th December 2006 and once again raise much needed revenue towards the Wiltshire Air Ambulance, but they will have to pull out of at least half of those venues. Many of these pubs are Wadworth owned which are the Mummers particular favourites. They will only be able to perform in the venues that have the relevant licenses in place.

Disappointed and frustrated with the problems that have arisen, Bob Berry added, "We want to bring this unsatisfactory law into question because it is yet another threat to our heritage and traditions. The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) state in their web site's Q&A section that the Act would not kill live traditional music in small venues. We would like to bring it to their attention that it is doing just that, and any exemptions should include other elements of seasonal traditions and customs such as Mumming plays."

Bob Berry
Wiltshire Folk Arts on behalf of Potterne Mummers
The Potterne Mummers

Contact Information:
Bob Berry
Wiltshire Folk Arts   
c/o 19 Whistley Rd,
Potterne
Devizes
Wiltshire
SN10 5QY
07714 550990
info@wiltshirefolkarts.org.uk
www.wiltshirefolkarts.org.uk