England
Surrey
Chiddingfold Tipteerers
Category:
Folk Play-only Group
Home Town:
Chiddingfold, Grid Ref.: SU9535, Lat.& Long.: 51.1103, -0.6356
Description:
Christmas Tipteering and St. Georges Day Pub plays! Performing a revitalised village folk play - purely for fun, (and perpetuation of tradition of course!).
Established:
2003
Performances:
Forthcoming: None registered
Past events:
 27-Dec-2009
1. - 12:30
Crown Inn, Chiddingfold, Surrey, GU8 4TX, England
2. - 14:00
Winterton Arms, Petworth Rd, Chiddingfold, Surrey, GU8 4UU
3. - 15:45
Winterton Arms, Petworth Rd, Chiddingfold, Surrey, GU8 4UU
Notes:
You can’t get any more 'real' than a live performance of the original and traditional Chiddingfold Tipteerer’s Play coming to a pub near you in Chiddingfold again this Xmas!
Having found an old script and account of a traditional 'Tipteerers' play, that was performed in Chiddingfold circa 1860, a few chaps got together in 2003 to resurrect the tradition.
We have been seen each year since then!
Also known as 'Mumming', Tipteering might be the original form of Pantomime (from the Greek: pan, the whole or all; and mimos, referring to a theatrical style or technique) and perhaps even the origin of what we know as modern theatre.Much of it’s origins seem to be pagan, involving the themes of death and resurrection around the winter solstice, but as few scripts or accounts have survived in written form this may be largely supposition.
The play was performed in the past by the agricultural and other workers of the area who, in times of winter hardship, found that a performing 'street theatre' was a welcome source of a little income!
The significance of the array of characters in a Tipteerer’s play seems lost to modern audiences, but has elements of a symbolic history of the British culture. Disguised, according to
tradition with blackened faces, the ‘guisers’, or players take the parts of King George, a Turkish Knight, Beelzebub, the Doctor, and of course Old Father Christmas, plus the Bold
Captain, Little Billy Wittle and of course Slasher, the gallant soldier! Needless to say, Good King George wins the day against the infidel! Who is killed, but brought back to life by the
marvellous Doctor!
All participants dress in what costume can be brought to hand; 'rags and tatters', and with their blackened faces, (to avoid recognition!), they ‘fight’ with wooden swords; and conclude by consuming beer whilst taking a collection!
(This money will be donated to the Chiddingfold Bonfire Fund, who disburse their funds to the elderly of Chiddingfold each Xmas).
Some raucous singing of Xmas Carols with much audience participation will round off a cheering event.
To continue this modern re-enactment, the Chiddingfold Tipteerers will process through the village on Sunday 27th December 2009, starting our first performance at The Crown PH at about 1230, and concluding with another at The Winterton at about 2pm.
(Timings are approximate!)
We would welcome and indeed encourage interested local men/boys/ladies/girls who would be willing to dress up and have fun whilst continuing a very old tradition.
We are not looking for great acting - as anyone who has seen a mummers’ play will know - but rather a willingness to dress up, spread some fun,
and to declaim the lines loudly and with spirit, particularly anyone of a musical nature who would be able to fiddle,bang or blow an instrument, to accompany us!
A big thank you to the licensees involved for quenching the players thirsts in previous performances.
(We also perform a play to celebrate St. Georges' Day - 23rd April - watch out for that one too!)
If you would like to take part; we will be meeting for 'rehearsals' in the run-up to Xmas; please contact:-
John Cowburn [01428 685940]
but do come along on the day to jeer,cheer, sing and shout !
Other past years: 2003 (1), 2004 (1), 2005 (1), 2006 (1), 2008 (1), 2010 (3), 2011 (1), 2012 (2), 2013 (1), 2017 (1), 2018 (2)
Media Links:
1. Chiddingfold Tipteerers performing in Chiddingfold, Surrey, England on 27th December 2005 - Validated link
Folk Play Research - Photo(s)
[3 images], Roger Twitchin, 27-Dec-2005
2. The Chiddingfold Tipteerers performing in Chiddingfold, Surrey, England, 27th December 2004 - Validated link
Folk Play Research - Photo(s)
[1 image], Roger Twitchin, 27-Dec-2004
3. The Chiddingfold Tipteerers performing in Chiddingfold, Surrey, England, 28th December 2003 - Validated link
Folk Play Research - Photo(s)
[2 images], Gerri McManus, 28-Dec-2003
Contacts:
John Cowburn (jj.cowburn@btinternet.com), Phone: 0781 4593083
Jane, Burton (jane.burton@btinternet.com), Phone: 0148 3417618
Notes:
Resurrected from a script that was last performed in 1936 approx.
Update: Directory entry / Performances
/ Media Links
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