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What are Mummers' plays?

Mummers' Plays are traditional English folk plays, usually seasonally performed by troupes of actors known as mummers or by local names such as tipteerers, galoshins and so on. They are sometimes performed in the street but more usually in pubs as a more traditional form of entertainment established before the proliferation of TV and other digital media. Although the term "mummers" has been used since medieval times, no play scripts or performance details survive from that era, and the term may have been used loosely to describe performers of several different kinds. The earliest evidence of mummers' plays as they are known today (usually involving a magical cure by a quack doctor) is from the mid to late 18th century. The Ashdown Mummers are a group dedicated to the performances of a traditional Sussex Mumming ritual, and some lesser-known ancient fertility dances. Their name is taken from the forest where they were founded, in the heart of Sussex, England. Their play is the same at every venue, basically telling a tale of good versus evil. Members of the cast include; St George, Mad Johnny Jack, a Turkish Knight, Father Christmas (all dressed in green) the devil plus a few other assorted characters. It is short, around 15 minutes but this varies depending on the degree of improvisation that actors employ during their performance and of course heckling from the crowd. The Ashdown mummers only perform their play one weekend a year, it’s always the Saturday and Sunday before Christmas and this year they performed in 10 Sussex pubs largely chosen for their good beer and friendly atmosphere. Their version of the Mummers' Play was discovered in early 1970 after a copy of a script was discovered in the old East Grinstead Library archives dating back to an article in 1913 and has subsequently been performed every year since 1973. Nobody really knows the true origins of the play but this only adds to its sense of mystery. Some members of the group have been performing this for over 40 years but the play has evolved to introduce new characters over the years. As Christmas becomes ever more commercial every year, it is refreshing to see that the Mummers Play is still a welcome folk tradition not yet abandoned in the festive season. Its charm and merriment enthrals​ the pub-goers and looks to have a bright future. In all, they performed in ten pubs across Sussex, raising money for local charities.