Wantage Mummers Boxing Day Play

The Wantage Mummers perform their traditional Boxing Day hero-combat play at three locations, ending with singing, music and the Mummers Dance.

The Wantage Mummers revive their traditional Boxing Day hero-combat play, performed at Faringdon Market Place, outside the Bear Hotel in Wantage, and at Childrey Village Hall. In the play, King Alfred fights Beau Slasher, is killed and revived by The Noble Dr Good, and the combat repeats until Beau Slasher dies and is brought back to life by Jack Vinney. Molly introduces the play, Happy Jack collects donations for charity, and Old Father Beelzebub comments on the year's events before it closes with the Mummers Dance. The tradition was revived on Boxing Day 1977 at The Greyhound in Letcombe Regis, and the Mummers have raised more than £35,000 for local and national charities.