It’s CHRISTMAS! But Christmas wasn’t quite the event as we know it today. Join us as we wander through the various ways medieval and early modern people celebrated Christmas – from mummings, Mystery plays, to student Revels and court masques, let us take you on a journey through changing traditions.
This is a long form all day event with a mix of plays and a closing panel – from 1pm till 7pm latest.
PART ONE – All Your Christmases at Once! An introductory medley of short Christmasy things – including performances of: The Lincoln Christmas Crying Ceremony, Mumming‘s and other medieval shows by John Lydgate and contemporaries, Thomas Middleton’s show for the Lord Mayor Sir Francis Jones for the Celebration of the Joyful Feast of Christmas, and Old Christmas – an interlude about over indulgence – and much more besides!
PART TWO – The Towneley Second Shepherds’ Play – both hilarious and moving, this mystery play is a prequel story of the shepherds before they meet the baby Jesus.
PART THREE – A Christmas Mess – there’s a war on in the kitchen! The two main courses for Christmas dinner are fighting over which should be served first, and Belly is getting hungry! Think Toy Story, just with food.
PART FOUR – Narcissus (a Twelfth Night entertainment) – It’s as close to Pantomime as the period gets, with this Classical mythology themed play… with sooooo many puns and bad rhymes.
PART FIVE – Christmas, His Masque by Ben Jonson – unlike most court masques, this is closer to farce than Strictly, with music and dance playing second fiddle to the psychodrama backstage as Christmas tries desperately to hold the show together.
PART SIX – The Long Good Christmas – a panel discussion about entertainments for (and about) the often incredibly long Christmas period. With panelists Dr Daisy Black, Dr Will Green, and Dr Stephen Longstaffe.
Sunday 6th December from 1pm till 7pm (latest) – this is a long form event with breaks, we advise having a good lunch before you arrive, and maybe enjoying some food after – see below. Tickets on sale now via Ticketsource
Venue: The White Bear Theatre, 138 Kennington Park Rd, London SE11 4DJ – food and drink are of course available from the pub downstairs, and there is a 10% discount on food for ticket holders. Why not make a day of it with a snack before the show, and possibly even dinner afterwards?
SELECT REVIEWS FOR PAST PRODUCTIONS by Beyond Shakespeare and Producer Robert Crighton
Bosworth Field (2023) “Robert Crighton is a dramatic powerhouse… Bravo Beyond Shakespeare!” Halstead Gazette
Undead Bard (2016) ★★★★★ A brilliantly original and entertaining performance. http://www.londontheatre1.com
“All hopeful recipients of this man’s prodigious talent should form an orderly queue…” East Anglian Daily Times
“Much like Bagpuss…” Time Out
