Folk Plays - January 2004 - The Long Company

Sue Coe

The Long Company in the Ryburn Valley, West Yorkshire, England, 2nd-6th Jan.2004

The Long Company, "We are the merry actors that traverse the street" - Opening of the play

"We are the merry actors that traverse the street" - Opening of the play
Performed at the Navigation Inn, Sowerby Bridge, 3rd January 2004
Left to right: Common Jack, St George, Old King Christmas, Prince of Paradine, Doctor, Beelzebub

The Long Company, The Doctor resurrects St.George - "Rise up St.George and fight again"

The Doctor resurrects St.George - "Rise up St.George and fight again"
The Old Bridge Inn, Ripponden, 6th January 2004

This is a modern adaptation of the nineteenth century chapbook plays with the addition of a new "calling on song" and "Common Jack". Each performance is dramatically staged, outdoors and lantern lit. The spectacular costumes, by Annie Dearman, make the characters 7ft tall. Jim Cooper made the weaponry. All plays were followed by a session of seasonal songs and tunes in the pub.

The recommended URL for this web page is www.folkplay.info/Gallery/LongCompany2004.htm