Story
Each year at Christmastime the LEP perform a Mummers Play at venues in and around Lane End to the joy of the audiences
Usually in December many of the Lane End Players are well into the rehearsal process for the pantomime but it has now become an annual tradition for a group of LEP members (most of whom are not involved in pantomime) to get together and rehearse and then perform a Mummers Play. The initial performance of the season tends to be at 'Christmas in the Village' which takes place at the Lane End village hall and includes musical performances from local school children and local churches and also the turning on of the Christmas Tree lights. The evening is filled with consumption of mulled wine and mince pies and topped off with the LEP Mummers Play. A fun little play which includes acting, singing and plenty of audience interaction and involvement. The play then goes "on tour" usually to pubs in the local area. The three main venues are The Grouse and Ale (Lane End), The Prince Albert (Frieth) and The Chequers (Wheeler End). The local pub goers are always in good sprits and happy to join in as and when needed. So what is a Mummers Play? It is a traditional English folk play popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is usually (and certainly in our case) set with a Christmas theme and usually included Saint George and his death and resurrection. The play includes appearances from Beelzebub (The Devil) and Father Christmas and is ultimately a morality play of good triumphing over evil. In 2017 the LEP used a new script written by member Tom Everitt. The new version is based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and follows the story as well as adding many other elements from the traditional Mummers Play including an appearance from Saint George. |
Cast (from all years)
John Trett
Andrew MacTavish John Nicolson David Harnett Peter Rose Ritchard Tysor Bob Connor Peter Stokes Ceri Nicolson Rhiannon Nicolson Lisa Harnett Margot Connor Kath Gill Georgie Brooks Sheila Keatinge Alison Hartnett Pauline MacTavish Libby Beck Tish Marshall |