Earlsdon (Chapelfields), Coventry
Water Ceilidh, Kenilworth
Coventry Mummers
Founded 1966
Welcome to the home page of the Coventry Mummers
Enjoying a warm sunny day out at Warwick Castle.
We are a side of some 13 men formed in 1966 to promote the performance, research, study and public awareness of Mummers Plays or 'English ritual Drama'.
In 1967 we represented our City at Kiel in Germany and for this were granted the privilege of using the Arms of the City in our badge.
Having much in common with Morris Dancers, we applied to join their national organisation and became the first non-dancing side ever admitted into the Morris Ring.
We could perform on the strict letter of the tradition by sticking closely to the costumes, texts and delivery styles of the Plays as first collected. However, we prefer to interpret the spirit of each Play with a bias towards humour and entertainment. As one of the first revival teams formed solely to perform Mummers Plays we hope that our example will encourage others to form their own teams.
Since our inception, we have performed extensively in our own local area, all over England at Festivals and Folk Days, and have also visited Germany, Denmark, Belgium, the USA and Eire. For ten consecutive years from 1978 we were engaged by the National Theatre as their 90 minute Christmas Foyer Show. Each Christmas we perform a number of Warwickshire plays in support of local charities, keeping to the areas from which the texts were collected and adhering closely to their traditions.
What is mumming?
Mummers Plays were a rural activity performed not by 'Actors' but by ordinary people for their community in homes, pubs or streets. Traditionally this was done around Christmas and New Year, although exceptions included Easter in the North West England (Pace-Egging) and Hallowe'en in Cheshire (Souling). There are many ritual elements in the Plays and the most common theme is "Death" and "Re-birth".
Holmfirth Folk Festival 1999
THE PERFORMANCE
Our texts are all collations using the best traditional lines and to this framework we combine improvisation and topical ad-libbing. We believe that we maintain the integrity of the subject but our approach, always professional, is that of craftsmen rather than artistes. We accept that the payer calls the tune and try to be as adaptable as possible to the requirements of the moment.
We do not use scenery, sets, special lighting or amplification and so our 'in-out time' is nil and we can perform in almost any venue or situation. In the past these have included everything from small rooms to large halls and - outdoors - from street corners to big arenas. Our audiences have varied from less than ten to many hundreds and from passers-by to invited glitterati.
For anyone requiring entertainment that is historical or traditionally 'English' in character, our plays offer one of the few opportunities for sustained humour. Our costumes are colourful, our weapons spectacular and our performances memorable!
"Jessie Weston describes a mumming play performed near Rugby in Warwickshire, of which the dramatis personae are Father Christmas, St.George, a Turkish Knight, the Knight's mother Moll Finney, a Doctor, Humpty Jack, Beelzebub and Big-Head-and-Little-Wits. What do you make of that?
"Nothing very much I'm afraid."
"It's easy!" Miss Maiden cried triumphantly. "St.George kills the knight, the mother grieves, the Doctor brings him back to life. It symbolises the death and rebirth of the crops in winter and summer. It all comes back to the same thing in the end: the life force endlessly renewing itself. Robin Hood, as you know, is connected to the Green Man of medieval legend, who was originally a tree-god or nature spirit."
Extract from 'Small World' by David Lodge with reference to Jessie Weston: 'From Ritual To Romance'. With thanks and acknowledgement to Dave Alton
The cast of the Stoneleigh Christmas Play
Boxing Day 1998
Back Row Left to Right
Bryan Bellingham, Jim Brannigan, Gary Wilkinson, Graham Hall, Dick Dixon
Front Row Left to Right
Mick Barwell, Tim Chatham and aspiring Mummer, Murray Chatham
EDUCATIONAL EVENTS
We have performed, talked and directed plays at schools, colleges and festivals, including workshops and lectures.
For larger events we can offer advice and help in booking country dance bands and callers, and other specialist acts.
Our founder Ron Shuttleworth has the world's largest collection of copies of printed material about Mummers Plays. If you would like further information on the Mumming tradition, feel free to write to him at 41 Morningside, Coventry CV5 6PD or phone him on 024 7667 6721 (Ron is still an enthusiast of the telephone as a communication device that promotes genuine conversation!). You can email Ron using
'this link'
Coventry Mummers are always most interested to meet or hear from anyone who has any information about English Folk Customs or anything connected with traditional mumming
For information about bookings please contact
John Havell
35 Belvedere Road, Earlsdon,
Coventry CV5 6PG
+44 024 7667 2297
or Email him at john@havell45.plus.com