The 2001 Pace Egg Play will take place on Good Friday at its annual
venue in Weaver's Square.
An opportunity to see this ancient marvel.
- See the brave St George smite all his challengers.
- Marvel at the slain riseback to new life.
- Laugh at the perculia antics of Toss Pot.
Originally an adult rebirth ceremony for a good new season The Pace Egg Play
is perhaps the world's oldest drama and can be traced back through English
and European Mummers' plays to ancient Egypt and Syria. A mixture of a pagan
rebirth ceremony with the later influences of Christianity and the Crusades.
The text of the Pace Egg has been past down orally over the years and was at
one time performed by the village boys for coppers or eggs at Easter time.
Heptonstall Pace Egg was revived in 1979, and now has an enthusiastic
following. As a 'combat' version - the most popular variant in the Pennines
- it promises to be an action-packed spectacle that shouldn't be missed! To
add further excitement to the proceedings, Neil Collins the fire or knife
juggler will herald the performance, weather permitting.
Performance times are as follows in Weaver's Square:
11.15 am
12.45 pm
2.15 pm
3.45 pm
Please note: The Midgley Pace Egg performed by pupils of Calder High School
will be at 3.30 pm followed by the Heptonstall version.
The cast is:
St George Ray Riches
Bold Slasher Karl Williams
The Doctor David Burnop
Black Prince Andy Carter
King of Egypt Sydney Roper
Hector Stuart Hought
Toss Pot Dean Gash
For further information contact David Burnop
Day: 0161 877 1944
Ev: 01422 846277 |
