Sunday 25 January 2015

The Long Company Mummers at The Old Bridge Inn Ripponden

It was dark night with touch of drizzle from the skies, but in front of the oil lamps waited a brilliant surprise.  By torch light in procession played in by musicians came strange shapes all clad in fantastic guise.  There was King Christmas, Common Jack, The Doctor and Beelzebub, St. George and the Prince of Paradine, all gathered close in one covey to act and speak, to fight, to die, cure, to live again and all the time to mum and mime.

This is agreat living tradition being enacted around the winter solstice.  It brought brilliant ideas to life of the light that will return in summer.  It showed us what we can do in the dark nights of winter.  With flaming torches, musicians and wonderful actors all in an open theatre more often used as a car park this primal spectacle was brilliantly brought to life.  There are so many reasons that I could give to recommend this performance but the easiest way is to say that I enjoyed it and want to go back for more.

6th January 2015 The Old Bridge Inn, Ripponden, HX6 4DF

The Long Company Mummers
http://www.ryburn3step.org.uk/cms/?page_id=113 

Photos copyright 2014 PHH Sykes 

The Long Company Mummers at The Old Bridge Inn Ripponden (112)

The Long Company Mummers at The Old Bridge Inn Ripponden (147)


The Long Company Mummers at The Old Bridge Inn Ripponden (170)

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