Keep mum?

From the archive, first published Monday 3rd Feb 2003.

I write to support those who spoke to reporter Sam Relph of their concern about the current bill before Parliament seeking to further licence music performances (The Argus, January 29).

As a member of two local mummers' sides I would like to point out almost all traditional plays include music or song in their texts. For example, one of the songs sung by the Rottingdean Mummers, The Dying Soldier, tells of a death on the field of Balaclava. The Merrie England Mummers perform traditional plays where the characters are sung on to the performance. Normally, and especially with the midwinter (Christmas) plays, the performance ends with appropriate singing.

It beggars belief that a minister responsible for culture could put Morris dancing, mummers' plays, apple howling, May dancing and wassailing at risk. What are these performances but our native culture?

-Eddie Scott, South Coast Road, Peacehaven

Archive Home