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The Long Company

 

Traditional Folk Plays can be seen all over England at Christmas, All Souls and Easter, performed in streets, squares and pubs by a team of actors, mummers or guizers. The play is very old and the story is always the same - a champion is killed and then brought back to life. Originally, it may have been a seasonal ceremony, later a text and more characters were added passed on orally to explain the ritual to the community and make it more entertaining. This play is an adaptation of printed chapbook versions circulating in the north of England during the nineteenth century.

Four performances at different pub locations take place between 2nd - 6th January.

Best to arrive at 7.30 p.m. (ish) where you'll find the band and singers gathering inside the pub. At 7.55 p.m. The Wassail Song is sung. The band then strike up with The Long Company March and all those gathered inside are led outside and assemble around a torchlight performance area. The Long Company `actors' process out of the dark slowly & eerily led by Old King Christmas, ringing his bell. The identity of the 'actors', a closely guarded secret, is protected by the majestic coloured strip costumes reflecting the torchlight & they appear to be over seven feet tall.

Beelzebub calls on each character 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 & fork into the air before slowly processing back into the night, whence they came. Afterwards it's everyone into the pub for seasonal songs & music.


The Long Company only perform locally at venues around The Ryburn Valley in West Yorkshire & on specific dates. In recent years their performances have attracted large audiences of local people & national interest with visitors from further afield. Further details tel 01 422 822 569

A couple of pictures from past plays
The Calling on Song & Play Text

The Wassail Song

The Greetings Card

For sale all year round

2008
Jan 2nd - Kershaw House, Luddenden Lane,
Luddenden Foot, HX2 6NW
01422 882 222

Jan 3rd - The Navigation Inn, Chapel Lane
Sowerby Bridge, HX6 3LF
01422 831 636

Jan 5th - The Alma, Cottonstones, via Millbank,

HX6 4NS
01422 823 334

Jan 6th - The Bridge Inn, Priests Lane, Ripponden

HX6 4DF
01422 822 595

This play only happens during the gap between New Year and the
Festival of Fools!

If you miss it this season,
you'll have to wait until 2009!