In this episode, Craig sits down with Bob Barry of the Potterne Mummers to dive deep into the heart of a quintessential British folk tradition. From the "Turkish Knight" to "Little Man Jack," we explore the life, death, and comedic rebirth that defines the Potterne Mummer's Play.

Stay tuned for the full play at the end of the episode.

In this episode:

The History of the Play: Bob shares his journey from reviving Morris dancing in Oxfordshire in 1979 to joining the Potterne side in 1987. We learn about the 1953 revival by schoolmaster Bernard Baker and the older roots traced back to Reverend Buchanan in 1896.

Characters of the Performance: A breakdown of the seven traditional characters:

Father Christmas: The "Master of Ceremonies" (dressed in traditional green tatters, not Coca-Cola red!).

King George: The brash hero of the piece.

The Turkish Knight: The antagonist who meets a messy (but temporary) end.

The Spanish Doctor: The miracle worker with a questionable potion and a high fee.

The Valiant Soldier: A boastful warrior ready for a fight.

Old Almanac: The short part—perfect for the "new boy" in the troop.

Little Man Jack: The mysterious figure carrying his family (dolls) on his back.

The Spirit of Mumming: Bob explains the importance of keeping the tradition "pure" versus modernizing it with current affairs, and the friendly "territorial" agreements between different Mumming sides in Wiltshire.

Charity at Heart: The Potterne Mummers perform up to 25 times in the five days leading up to Christmas Eve, raising thousands of pounds for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

Resources & Links:

Wiltshire Air Ambulance: If you enjoyed the performance, please consider donating to the Mummers' primary charity.

https://www.wiltshirebathairambulance.org.uk/donate#oneoff

Don't blame the owls!

Stay Wyrd

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