Mummers plays in Kent

Subject: Mummers plays in Kent
From: GUEST,Gadaffi
Date: 19 Jun 10 - 05:48 AM

I was out on St George's Day with Rabble when I met Ray from Oyster Morris who told me they'd been out themselves near Canterbury where there was/they had a St George's mummers play, and (possibly) Mark Jopling was/is a member. Further enquiries (from Aaron Jaynes) have informed me they are called the Ups and Downs Mummers (spelling/name unclear), and they also perform(ed) at The Gate Inn at Marshside. The only team I know of there is the Boyden Gate Mummers who go out at Christmas (along with visiting teams of hoodeners). The usual google searches to find more reveal little, apart from one photo of the Boyden Gate team of whom I recognise no-one.

Anyone out there 'in the know'?

Subject: RE: Mummers plays in Kent
From: doncatterall
Date: 19 Jun 10 - 05:50 PM

Wadard Mummers perform on Boxing Day at the Wheatsheef Betsham and at their pre-Christmas bash in Eynsford

Subject: RE: Mummers plays in Kent
From: GUEST,Mark Stevens
Date: 20 Jun 10 - 02:22 PM

I don't know.

Subject: RE: Mummers plays in Kent
From: squeezeboxhp
Date: 21 Jun 10 - 08:34 AM

Not in Kent but BRADSHAW MUMMER in HALIFAX Yorkshire are looking for willing idiots to black up and have great time at festivals and public houses on a regular basis not just easter.
see the website for contacts
http://www.bradshawmummers.com/

Subject: RE: Mummers plays in Kent
From: GUEST,mark jopling
Date: 31 Dec 13 - 07:25 AM

just some information. I started the "Up the Downs" Mummers in 1995 and wrote a play to be performed by local blokes from Barham, Bridge and other villages around to collect money for and publicise our campaign to fight a hideous proposal that threatened Barham Downs (hence the name.) We won the battle and had such fun performing that we kept on going. Strictly we are not Mummers because every year I have written a new play celebrating or commemorating an historical event for that year, but with a cast based on Mummers' characters and always with the message of the ultimate triumph of good over evil. We are just about starting our 18th season and the theme for 2014 is obviously the start of the Great War. Father Christmas does the introductions, St. George is himself, the damsel is Britannia, the villain is Kaiser Bill, we have the inevitable Fool and Doctor, the Dragon is "Accursed Militarism." We shall do 5 performances and donate the money to a local charity.

Subject: RE: Mummers plays in Kent
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jan 14 - 10:19 AM

have a look for the Darent Valley Champions (Hartley Morris Men), they perform 2 local plays at Shoreham and Otford over the Christmas period. Have been doing for years.
They also perform the Firle play which was discovered by a Hartley Man many years ago.

Subject: RE: Mummers plays in Kent
From: GUEST,George Frampton
Date: 06 Jan 14 - 11:34 AM

Thanks Mark,

Had I recalled that, it would have appeared in my recent 'Living Tradition' article.

Subject: RE: Mummers plays in Kent
From: The Barden of England
Date: 07 Jan 14 - 05:29 AM

Kits Coty Morris do a Mummers Play on Boxing Day at 'The White Horse' in Hunton and have done it elsewhere too.
John Barden