Bedford’s Red Cuthbert Morris began the festive season with two sets of performances in the town, including the return of their Mummers Play on 1 December.
According to Wikipedia, Mummers plays can be traced back to 1296 as part of the festivities for the wedding of the daughter of Edward I and consist of costumed players engaging in combat, with the loser being revived by a doctor character.
The Red Cuthberts’ Mummers Play toured the pubs of the Prime Ministers area of Bedford and featured the traditional tale of good versus evil, but was updated for these post-pandemic times.
Audiences at the Kent Arms, Burnaby Arms and the Wellington Arms were enthralled as Father Christmas led them through the battle between a nurse and Covid-19 with the day being saved by good Doctor Brown.
On Sunday 4 December, Red Cuthbert Morris danced their mix of traditional and contemporary dances at St Paul’s Church as part of the Christmas Tree Festival.
“Whether the Festival has seen anything quite like it before is an interesting question but the large audience won’t forget it,” said a spokesperson.
Their performance was followed up by spots in the town centre until mid-afternoon.
You can follow Red Cuthbert on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or at redcuthbert.uk and new dancers and musicians are always welcome.
