DRINKERS at the White Horse Pub in Broad Street were treated to an ancient form of comedy by the Oxford City Morris Men.

The group performed a traditional mummers’ play in the pub on Wednesday.

Duncan Drummond, a software writer and morris dancer from Abingdon, said: “Mumming is a mock play put on in pubs at Christmas time.

It’s probably about 400 years old. It lasted about 10 minutes. Mumming isn’t supposed to be well acted, it’s supposed to be amusing.”

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The 60-year-old added: “Most of the local Morris sides will be performing mummers’ plays this time of year.”

Characters that appear in the plays, which stem from medieval times, include Father Christmas, St George, a doctor, Beelzebub and an old woman.

They are also performing the play at 1pm tomorrow in North Parade, off Banbury Road. A collection is being made from the audience for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

 


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