The Longford Mummers
Since 2003 the Longford Mummers have been performing in their local habitat - pubs of the local area. Over the years we have raised money for the Catholic Children's Society, The County Air Ambulance, The NSPCC Full Stop Campaign, the Alzheimer's Society and The Nightingale Macmillan Unit (Derby). The players all come from the surrounding area. Music is provided the band who greet each character with an 'appropriate tune' and finish the performance with a couple of good hearty Christmas songs. It is, allegedly, a great piece of participative Christmas entertainment that also has the benefit of raising money for a good cause.
The Longford Mummers perform the Bampton Mummers' Play which originates from the South West Oxfordshire village of Bampton where it has an unbroken tradition of performance on Christmas Eve stretching back over 100 years. The Origin of Mummer Plays is believed to be rooted in the oldest of pagan ceremonies combined with the "Lord of Misrule" customs, and were a traditional part of Christmas at the Court of Edward III (1327-77). In the early middle Ages the Church introduced Saints and Old Testament Prophets into the drama to produce Christian Miracle Plays, but perhaps it was the other way round. Despite the efforts of the Clergy and the popularity of the Miracle Plays, they never quite succeeded in ousting the old pagan Mumming Plays, which remain popular to this day. In these the players disguised themselves by blacking their faces or by wearing masks, and garments made from ribbon or strips of paper, a custom that still survives. The practice is based on an ancient belief that if the Mummers were recognised, the magical power of their play would be broken. Although there are many regional variations, the main plot of the traditional mumming play revolves around a battle between Saint George and an enemy who is variously called The Turkish Knight, Bold Slasher, or the Black Prince of Paradise. The climax comes when one or other of the protagonists is killed. The Doctor then intervenes and miraculously restores him to life. This simple story can be interpreted to symbolise the eternal struggle of good & evil, light & darkness, fertile spring & sterile winter - an expression of man's preoccupation with the cycle of the seasons or an excuse to get out on a winter’s night and have a pint! The Longford Mummers only perform for one night only (that is more than enough!!) which is traditionally the Saturday before Christmas. The schedule of performances is posted in the village newsletter and on the Longford Mummers’ website
