St George and the Dragon play to tour Doncaster pubs this Christmas
The play will be performed by members of the Green Oak Morris Men
A traditional play telling the story of St George and the Dragon is to tour a number of Doncaster area pubs this Christmas.
Also dubbed as Turkish Knight fights Turkish Knight, the show will be performed by Doncaster Mummers, otherwise known as the Green Oak Morris Men.
A spokesperson said: “For many years past, Green Oak Morris have performed their Mummers Play under the name of Doncaster Mummers in various public houses around the Doncaster and South Yorkshire area.
“Mummers plays have been around for centuries and are a cross between morality plays and pantomime.
“Death and resurrection, humour and drama, fighting and laughter – its all here.
“Audience participation is not only appreciated but demanded.
“A fun packed evening with beer, dancing and songs and music – too good to miss.”
This year the play will be performed at the following venues on these dates: -
2 December - White Horse in Misson – 8pm
13 December - Jemmy Hirst at the Rose and Crown in Rawcliffe at 8pm
16 December- Doncaster Brewery and Tap on Young Street, Doncaster at 8pm
A spokesperson said: “It will start at around 8pm. followed by a sword dance and then singing and merriment.
“Anyone interested is welcome to come to any or all venues to find out what it’s all about.”
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Mummers Plays are one of the oldest surviving features of the traditional English Christmas.
Mumming in England goes back for over a thousand years.
These plays are best described as early pantomime. They are based loosely on the legend of St. George and the Dragon.
The plays are intended to show the struggle between good and evil as well as death and resurrection.
Half a dozen heavily disguised characters perform the play. The characters vary from play to play, although the hero is always St George, who fights with the power of evil traditionally represented by the Dragon and then the Turkish Knight.
Characters in the Doncaster Mummers play include Father Christmas, The King of Egypt, St George, Dragon, Doctor and others.
The spokesperson added: “There is much medieval sword play in the play and usually one character eventually plays dead.
“Cue the quack doctor who enters, performs a miraculous, albeit comedic, cure on the body and in the process neatly performs the symbolic act of reawakening the earth from the death of winter.”