comedy/tragedy, happy face/sad face theatre mask

Wantage Mummers Play - a traditional play. They are supported by the Icknield Way Morris Men of the Vale of White Horse - yew berry mast

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Wantage Mummers Play 2011 performance at The Hatchet, Childrey

The Mummers, or Mumming, Play is a ritual performance that is well over a thousand years old. Whilst it is traditionally associated with the Christmas period (Midwinter Solstice), it is said to be linked with pagan rites showing the triumph of life over death (death and resurrection), good over evil.

Indeed, in other parts of the country they are even performed at Easter - Pace Egging - and All Souls Day (near Samhain) - Soulers. We have performed the Wantage Mummers Play since its revival in 1977; it is based on an old tradition from the nearby village of Steventon, Oxfordshire. Maintaining the anonymity of the players is a key feature; villagers thought it bad luck if they could identify a performer.

We perform our play on December 26th. The Icknield Way Morris Men sponsor the Wantage Mummers.

Buy Old Father Beelzebub's Speech for 2012. Proceeds donated to The Children's Society, the charity supported for this year.

Following their successful 2012 performances on Boxing Day, The Wantage Mummers made a donation of £1700 to the Children's Society. (2MB)

This included a charitable donation of £100 to Wantage Mummers from The Icknield Way Morris Men

Time remaining for first performance of the Wantage Mummers
according to the time at London

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BOXING DAY PERFORMANCES
Thursday 26th December 2013

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10:00 Faringdon Market Place
12:00 The Bear Hotel, Wantage
13:00 The Hatchet, Childrey

THE YEW TREE

The Yew tree was considered sacred by the Druids, who believed it to represent an emblem of immortality; in view of the nature of Mummers Plays, we considered this an appropriate choice for our web site.

Taxol is a naturally occuring substance (a diterpene) found in the Yew tree. It inhibits cell division and it is this property that makes it the basis for the treatment of certain kinds of cancer.

Organisations helped by the Wantage Mummers
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Time remaining for first performance of the Wantage Mummers according to the time at London

Time remaining for first performance of the Wantage Mummers
according to the time at London