Earl of Stamford Morris

Halton Souling Play

Halton Souling Play performance schedule 2007

Click here for pictures of the 2006 Souling

Friday 2nd November 2007

   8.30pm Dutton — The Tunnel Top, Northwich Road
   9.00pm Frodsham — Red Lion
   9.20pm Frodsham — Bear's Paw
   9.45pm Overton — Bull's Head
10.00pm Overton — Ring O'Bells

Saturday 3rd November

   8.00pm Halton Village — Norton Arms, Main Street
   8.30pm Moore — Red Lion
   9.00pm Lower Stretton — Ring O'Bells, Northwich Road
   9.45pm Hatton — Hatton Arms
10.15pm Daresbury — Ring O'Bells, Chester Road

Collections will be made in aid of Halton Haven Hospice

What is the Souling Play?

The souling play is a tradition around Halloween and afterwards or, more strictly, All Souls Day (November 2nd), hence the name. It is a Cheshire speciality. The traditional English mumming plays found elsewhere are associated with Christmas. Both varieties feature St. George (or Knight George) slaying an opponent (the Turkish Champion in our case) who is later revived, with the appearance of the Devil. However, the characters and scripts vary considerably between the locations from where the old plays are known. What it all means is lost in the mists of time (and possibly drink!) but there is clearly the traditional element of death and rebirth, as well as begging.

Souling plays were fairly widespread until the nineteenth century and these days the best-known ones are performed around Antrobus, Comberbach and Warburton. The Halton play - last recorded in the 1880s - is now being revived by the Earl of Stamford Morris with the aid of a Millennium grant. The Halton play is unusual for its song content, but has characters similar to the other souling plays. Our performance is more in pantomime style than is usual, partly due to our mixed cast. The original performers were all male. Somewhat untraditionally, any donations we receive will go to the Halton Haven hospice, a local charity.

Pictures from the 2005 Souling

Many thanks to Phil Bolshaw for the photos

Group

Dramatis Personae:
from left: Knight George (Mike Ashworth), rear: Old Woman (Lyn Goodkin),
front: Beelzebub (Cindy Dunn), Doctor (Ron Dunn), Jerry Dout (Jan),
Turkish Champion (Alan Goodkin), Driver (John Dover),
Gone for a bag of oats: Old Horse (Christine Dover)

George and the Doctor

Tell me Doctor ... why is your moustache falling off?

Beelzebub

More devilry at work - 2005 style!

Old Woman

... fire burn and basket bubble?

Driver and Old Horse

Walk on 'enery!

Old Horse

Eyes like a 'awk!

The Cast - 2002

Dramatis Personae:
from left: Knight George (Mike Ashworth), Old Horse (Christine Dover),
Driver (John Dover), front: Beelzebub (Cindy Dunn), rear: Old Woman (Lyn Goodkin),
Doctor (Ron Dunn), Turkish Champion (Alan Goodkin), Jerry Dout (Dave Love)

The original rehearsals of the Halton Souling Play in 2000 ...

Dramatis Personae:
front from left: Beelzebub (Cindy Dunn), Old Woman (Christine Dover),
Knight George (Janet Bleasdale), Driver (John Dover)
rear from left: Turkish Champion (Alan Goodkin),
Doctor (Ron Dunn), Jerry Dout (Dave Love)

Suddenly they've started acting

Some devilment at work here !

... and from one of the first performances ...
... at the Widnes Folk Club 3rd November 2000

'Old' Woman introduces the scene

The Doctor revives the Turkish Knight
"A drop of this nip-nap down thy tip-tap ..."

Beelzebub brandishes her 'club'

The Turkish Knight in fighting mood

The Turkish Knight lives to fight another day
Is Knight George a-fearing of the fray ?

'Little' Jerry Dout sweeping all away

Driver and Old Horse

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secretary (at) earlofstamford.org.uk

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