Gower Mummers Tour

We visited the Gower Heritage Centre in Parkmill to kick off the second night of our Mummers Tour on Thursday evening. The GHC was holding a Christmas Fair. It was particularly cold (-7C on my drive back later on) and so our performance was brief with a highly animated sword fight between Valiant Knight and King George who were both trying to keep warm! A pink yoga mat materialised from somewhere, providing the perfect landing spot for the oft slain Valiant Knight. It was certainly better than lying on a freezing cold stone slab floor!

We returned to Bishopston for performances of the play at the Valley and The Joiners. The Valley was welcoming as ever with a reasonable crowd of people watching us and applauding us at the conclusion of the play. The Landlord showed great hospitality (ale) which went down well with the players!

Di Clark joined us at the Joiners, playing Beelzebub. There were some dogs in the audience, but fortunately they were extremely well behaved and did not join in the play by barking!

The play was appreciated by all watching, and one gentleman gave us some pretty amazing feedback, saying how much he enjoyed the performance of the play and also our Morris dancing which he had seen done during the summer months. That meant a lot to us! On a slightly sad note, some of us drank the Three Cliffs Gold ale, and toasted the memory of Rory Gowland, the brewer of Swansea Brewing Co; who sadly passed away a couple of weeks back. He was a sole trader so the brewery is no more!

We left the Joiners to the applause of all sat in there drinking, and that certainly went down well with us!

The final part of the tour was a visit to the bar of the King Arthur at Reynoldston. The bar was full of good natured people and it also has a lovely roaring fire which gives a great ambience. Some of the staff were watching us and also seemed to enjoy the play which was performed with gusto and very well received. Siân, Di and Keith Lascelles played Christmas tunes at the conclusion of the play whilst the players enjoyed some of the ales (Felinfoel Double Dragon is superb) served at this truly excellent pub.

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!