Isca Morrismen Tradition - Mummers in Action
The Isca Mummers have now celebrated over 30 years of performing the Chepstow Mumming Play in and around South East Wales. For the Christmas 2003 season, the group were delighted to add the Chepstow Historical Society to their list of performance venues, particularly since much help was received from this group in the early years of the revival. As usual, the play was performed over three nights and again several hundred pounds was raised for childrens charity.
To give you flavour of the event, we present a short overview of the performance given at the Frost Fair in Magor and we are indebted to Phil Henshaw for the photographs.
Father Christmas introduces St. George onto the stage on the back of a lorry!
"I fought the fiery dragon . . . and brought him to his slaughter . . .
But in comes Bold Slasher, spoiling for a fight . . .
and after Beelzebub, in comes our Fairy off the Christmas Tree to "stir up the fire for these two boys to have a fight"
"Oh dear, oh dear, what have we done . . . is there a doctor to be found
. . . with this little bottle he will revive . . . and last, but not least, my name is Ragged Jack . . .
And finally, play over, all the cast take a well earned bow . . .
Here's to the continuation of this living tradition! . . .
