Specially designed for us by Hedingham Fair
And here is what is says on the back of the card
'The Long Company'
We are not of the ragged sort
but some of royal trim
We'll sweep away the Old Year & Bring the New Year in
The chorus of the Long Company 'calling on' song, 'Bring the New Year In', has been heard each winter since 1997 in and around the Ryburn Valley near Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire. The play is a modern adaptation of chapbook plays that circulated in the north of England during the nineteenth century. The Long Company devised the character Common Jack, but the others are familiar favourites - Old King Christmas, St George, Prince of Paradine, The Doctor, and Beelzebub.
Four performances at different pub locations take place between 2nd - 6th January. At 8 o'clock people assemble around a torch lit performance area. The Long Company appears, processing to music out of the dark night, slowly and eerily, led by Old King Christmas ringing his bell. The characters, each more than seven feet tall are larger than life. Beelzebub calls each on with a verse of their song. Their manner of performance is measured, more ritualistic than riotous.
As the play finishes, the mummers form a circle raising their swords, staffs, mattock and fork high into the air, before processing back again into the night. Afterwards, it's everyone into the pub for seasonal songs and music. The final performance each year on 6th January, Twelfth Night is at The Old Bridge, Ripponden.
The identity of each 'actor', a closely guarded secret, is protected by the majestic coloured strip costumes reflecting the torchlight. These were designed and made by Annie Dearman, the swords etc by Jim Cooper. John Adams leads the band and Pete Coe wrote the song 'Bring the New Year In'.
Details of this and other Ryburn 3 Step events can be found on their website
http://www.ryburn3step.org.uk or Tel 01422 822569
Special thanks to Ryburn 3-step and Pete Coe for these notes.
* Karen Cater, Hedingham Fair,
Sunnyside, Southey Green, Sible Hedingham, Essex. CO9 3RN
Tel: (01787) 462731