Warburton Souling 2020, Covid-19 edition

The Warburton Souling Play, one of many traditional ritual plays performed up and down the country, was revived in the late 1970s after break of over 40 years.

Setting off for the first night's performance - pre-Covid-19 days

Our Play is performed over a period of 2 weeks, kicking off on the 1st November each year – unless that date falls on a Sunday, in such cases we start the following day. We never perform on a Sunday.

You can read more about our Play here. 

We perform mainly in pubs (tsk) during the two week season….and we, er, rarely go thirsty.

 

Beelzebub, thirst quenched

We’re determined that our local tradition doesn’t die out as so many other plays have. Continuity is important but Covid-19 posed a threat to this year’s tour.

The Enterer

Turkish Champion

 

Enter Zoom.

In order for the Play to be performed safely it was agreed that the Play should be performed remotely from our respective homes using technology. A bit of clever editing has resulted in this:

 

If all goes to plan we should be hitting the road again next November – I certainly hope so, this year has been a disaster for many. To quote a certain ex-Prime Minister, ‘things can only get better’… can’t they?

The show must go on…as somebody else once (probably) said.

 

Soul Cakes - made by the lovely Honor. Last year. Obv.

October 2018

Now that I seem to have worked out a not-very-complicated Open LiveWriter method of posting photographs that works (for now), here are some more:

My Tarte Santiago – thanks to Rita for the recipe 

6th October: Cheshire Hare & Hounds Tally-Ho! trail run from Sparrowpit. A cracking route but a not-very-good venue:

The Hounds…well, some of them

Wells & Injured Wislon returning to base

Only a couple of photos (and a Whinge Warning) from my bike ride to Lymm:

Car parking problems are becoming, er, more problematic. The TransPennine Trail car park in Broadheath is used by those working in the nearby offices and factories. There simply isn’t enough car parking space available, nor is there anything like a decent public transport system in place. Ironically the TransPennine Trail, at this point, follows the course of the railway line that was ripped up as part of the Beeching cuts.

Another sad sight (site?), a matter of a hundred yards or so from the car park above. The Bay Malton pub, once frequented by workers from the adjacent Broadheath industrial area, is now closed.

October is Warburton Souling Play preparation time. We always have a rehearsal, just to make sure that we remember the words and actions from the previous years. And then we retire to to Saracen’s Head in Warburton to compare notes….and drink beer. I couldn’t perform in the play this time round – I had to go to Florida. Again.

The Gang with a potential Souler on his first Play outing

Three generations of Soulers…probably.

And now for something completely different, a quick and tasty dinner of chicken and roast vegetables:

Another trip to Florida:

When it it rains in Florida it gets very wet:

I bought a couple of these filters from Walmart in Clearwater – I didn’t realise that Sawyer are based about 3 miles from our Florida apartment.

Some photos to remind me of our Florida apartment, prior to it being sold. Dad was never happier when he was here, he looked forward to his annual 6 month stays. It was good to see him so happy. I’ll miss the apartment for that.

Ho hum.

Play Time

Rob’s YouTube video: Not sure who the ugly bugger is – the one who nicks a pint at the end.

Thursday 12th November:

8.40pm: Plough, Ashton on Mersey (Hydes)

9.10pm: Volunteer, Sale (Holts)

9.40pm: Prairie Schooner, Urmston (Brewery Tap)

10:15pm: Steamhouse, Urmston (Freehouse)

10.45pm: Church Inn, Flixton (Various cask ales)

Friday 13^th Nov

7.45pm: Greyhound, Ashley (JW Lees)

8.30pm: Railway, Hale (Robinsons)

9.00pm: Old Market Tavern, Altrincham (Freehouse: ELEVEN handpumps!)

9.30pm: Malt Shovels, Altrincham (Sam Smith)

10.10pm: Costello’s, Goose Green, Altrincham (Brewery Tap, Dunham Brewery)

10.40pm: Quarry Bank, Timperley (Hydes)

 

 The BIG day is Saturday:

2.30pm: St Werburgh's Autumn Fair, Warburton (Tea….hmmm)
6.15pm: Black Swan, Hollin Green, WA3 6LA (Various cask)
6.45pm: Rope & Anchor, Dunham, WA14 5RP (Various cask)
7.15pm: Axe & Cleaver, Dunham, WA14 4SE (Various cask)
7.45pm: Swan with 2 Nicks, Little Bollington, WA14 4TJ (Various cask)
8.15pm: Spread Eagle, Lymm, WA13 0AG (JW Lees)
8.45pm: Green Dragon, Lymm, WA13 9SB (Various cask)
9.30pm: Saracen's Head, Warburton, WA13 9TH (Dunham Brewery)

The Saracen's Head performance is the last of the season and is one huge party.

Lymm Folk Club are running a singers night in conjunction with The Play and there'll be music, singing & dancing afterwards.

More information about The Play here. 

Come and have a look-see if you’re at a loose end, it’s going to be fun!

Warburton Souling starts tonight

The Warburton (Cheshire) Souling Play season starts this evening, Monday 2nd November

The Plan (Ho-ho!):

8pm Saracen's Head (Dunham Brewery), Warburton

8.45pm The Vine (Sam Smith's), Dunham

9.15pm The Black Swan (Free House?), Hollins Green

10pm The Wheatsheaf (Hydes) Agden

If you're doing nowt and fancy having your pint nicked by Beelzebub then you know where to be!

1st November onwards….Souling time again

This is the time of the year that the Warburton Souling Gang take to the pubs road to spread mayhem, disquiet, misrule….and to sample far too much ale than is good for us:

Tooled up and ready for action

 Dick (aka ‘Old Hobbs’) with The Driver

Beelzebub got fed up of waiting to get served

The lads in the Wheatsheaf, Agden, trying for a place in next year’s Play

Invasion of The Star in Statham

The Quack Doctor does his stuff

Wimmin’s talk

This is The Plan for the rest of the season….tonight and tomorrow:

Come and visit if you can, but hold on to your beer. Tight.

And after all that, this:

I know what this is, do you?

Addendum:

On a more serious note, and it was the Pieman’s Blog that made me thing I should mention it, The Play raises money for local charities. We tend to concentrate on two, raising much needed dosh for each in turn: the local MS Research Charity and Cotebrook House.

This year we’re making fools of ourselves and sending the hat round for the very excellent Cotebrook House in Lymm. They say ‘Cotebrook House offers both continuing and short term care for residents and we have experience dealing with a variety of physical disabilities.’

We say that it’s a marvellous place that offers a superb level of short and long term care for those with physical disabilities. It has a lovely homely feeling, and deserves all the financial support it can get. Last time we supported them, two years ago, we donated £1350. Last year we raised £1450 for MS.

And another thing:

 With the statue of Frank Sidebottom, the Bard of Timperley, last night. In the rain.

1st-10th November, Souling in Warburton

The Warburton Souling Gang ready to hit the road

The Warburton Souling Play is a traditional play performed at this time of the year (All Souls) in pubs in the towns and villages in the area.

It’s both fun and interesting. and if my liver is up to it, the last performance of the year will take place this evening at the Saracen’s Head, Warburton, a small town near Lymm, Cheshire.

The year’s final performance is always a good do, attracting an audience from all over the region. The post-Play party is now a firm fixture in the diaries of many singers and musicians – the session doesn’t usually finish until the early hours of Sunday morning. I usually cancel Sunday. 

Turkish Champion in action

One way of getting a free beer!

Such an ugly bunch I’ve never seen before!

Beelzebub ignoring the dress code

Out to scare the kids

Added 12th November 2012: Photos from the 2012 season