Pace Egg play
Encyclopedia
The Pace Egg Plays are traditional village plays, with a rebirth theme, in which St George smites all challengers and the fool, Toss Pot, rejoices. The drama takes the form of a combat between the hero and villain, in which the hero is killed and brought to life, often by a quack doctor.
The plays take place in England
during Easter
, indeed the word 'Pace' comes from the old English word 'pasch' literally meaning 'Easter'. They are a tradition that was once widespread throughout England, but is now only practiced in a few areas, particularly Lancashire
and West Yorkshire
.
Many Pace Egg plays died out after the Great War, when many of the men who took part in them were killed in action. In Middleton, North Manchester, Pace Egging (performing the Pace Egg Play) was revived in 1967. The Bury Pace Eggers were revived in 1969, and still perform in pubs and square around the town and surrounding villages over the Easter weekend.
The plays have also enjoyed a remarkable renaissance in Heptonstall
, West Yorkshire
in recent decades. The origins are uncertain, but some version of the plays have undoubtedly been performed over many hundreds of years. It has become an established Good Friday
tradition, and hundreds come to Weavers Square to watch. In the play St George takes on contenders such as Bold Slasher, the Black Prince of Paradine and Hector.
The costumes — in particular the strange headgear comprising a towering edifice garlanded with flowers, peculiar to the Calder Valley — are as much a part of the fun as the action, where violent sword fights predominate but, as ever, good triumphs over evil.
After the last performance children take part in another ancient tradition, symbolising the rolling away of the stone from Christ's Tomb, when they roll their decorated (hard-boiled) eggs on the hill of the Parish Church of St Leonard.
Although cast members come and go over the years, the current line-up have over 150 years of participation between them.
The characters in the Middleton play are (in order of appearance) Captain Slasher, The King of England, St George, The Turkish Champion, The Doctor, The Female Clown (a.k.a. Miss Kitty Fair) Beelzebub and finally little Derry Doubt. There is also a large black horse, with rolling eyes and swivelling ears who, although not actually a traditional element in Middleton, nevertheless lends a certain something to the proceedings, and has even been known to dance!
itself performs a version of the play. The school performs the Midgley version of the play and it has become a big tradition within the school, and it has become a highly popular event with the Calder Valley public.
The school has performed to the Calder Valley now for over 50 years and the tradition still lives on to this present day. The play is rehearsed and choreographed by the students themselves so that they can make the performance their own and so that they can work outside the usual boundaries of a school drama lesson.
Last year's line up included Billy Painter (Who is also chief Editor of The Painter's Chronicle) as The Fool, Dario Coates
as St George, Sam Harris as Bold Slasher, Jack Deighton as The Doctor, Rowan Carter as The black prince of Paradine, Jacob Jones as The king Of Egypt, Joe Cotton as Hector, Desmond as Toss Pott. And Clara Collet and Jess Woodhead as Directors.
The Calder High students perform at St George's Square, Hebden Bridge
, West Yorkshire
, and then move up the hill and perform in Heptonstall
.
The 2011 performance had Billy Painter as Saint George, Rowan Carter as The Black Prince (It is those two last year of being able to do Pace Egg), Jack Deighton as The Fool, Sam Harris as Bold Slasher, Joe Cotton as Hector, Tom Jennings as Toss Pot and James Kay as The Doctor and last and least Sol Cotton as King Of Egypt. This year's performance was enhanced by a meeting in battle of the Calder High Black Prince and the seniors' Black Prince played by father and son.
The plays take place in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
during Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
, indeed the word 'Pace' comes from the old English word 'pasch' literally meaning 'Easter'. They are a tradition that was once widespread throughout England, but is now only practiced in a few areas, particularly Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
and West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
.
Many Pace Egg plays died out after the Great War, when many of the men who took part in them were killed in action. In Middleton, North Manchester, Pace Egging (performing the Pace Egg Play) was revived in 1967. The Bury Pace Eggers were revived in 1969, and still perform in pubs and square around the town and surrounding villages over the Easter weekend.
The plays have also enjoyed a remarkable renaissance in Heptonstall
Heptonstall
Heptonstall is a small village and civil parish within the Calderdale borough of West Yorkshire, England. The population of Heptonstall, including the hamlets of Colden and Slack, is 1,448. The town of Hebden Bridge lies directly to the southeast...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
in recent decades. The origins are uncertain, but some version of the plays have undoubtedly been performed over many hundreds of years. It has become an established Good Friday
Good Friday
Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
tradition, and hundreds come to Weavers Square to watch. In the play St George takes on contenders such as Bold Slasher, the Black Prince of Paradine and Hector.
The costumes — in particular the strange headgear comprising a towering edifice garlanded with flowers, peculiar to the Calder Valley — are as much a part of the fun as the action, where violent sword fights predominate but, as ever, good triumphs over evil.
Middleton Pace Egg Play
2011 sees the forty fifth consecutive year of the Middleton Play. Performancees take place in pubs throughout the town on Easter Monday, commencing at The Dusty Miller at 12.30pm and then every half hour at 'Last Orders' (formerly The Old Roebuck, the Britannia Inn, 'Harbord Harbord' (Wetherspoons), Assheton Arms, Old Boar's Head, and culminating in a final outdoor performance at the Ring o' Bells, at approximately 3.30pm (all times and venues subject to alteration).After the last performance children take part in another ancient tradition, symbolising the rolling away of the stone from Christ's Tomb, when they roll their decorated (hard-boiled) eggs on the hill of the Parish Church of St Leonard.
Although cast members come and go over the years, the current line-up have over 150 years of participation between them.
The characters in the Middleton play are (in order of appearance) Captain Slasher, The King of England, St George, The Turkish Champion, The Doctor, The Female Clown (a.k.a. Miss Kitty Fair) Beelzebub and finally little Derry Doubt. There is also a large black horse, with rolling eyes and swivelling ears who, although not actually a traditional element in Middleton, nevertheless lends a certain something to the proceedings, and has even been known to dance!
The Midgley Pace Egg Play
As well as the senior adult performance, Calder High SchoolCalder High School
The Calder High School is a comprehensive school, with an associated sixth form. It is located in the village of Mytholmroyd, in the metropolitan district of Calderdale, in northern England.-Admissions:As of the academic year 2006-7 it had 1,294 pupils...
itself performs a version of the play. The school performs the Midgley version of the play and it has become a big tradition within the school, and it has become a highly popular event with the Calder Valley public.
The school has performed to the Calder Valley now for over 50 years and the tradition still lives on to this present day. The play is rehearsed and choreographed by the students themselves so that they can make the performance their own and so that they can work outside the usual boundaries of a school drama lesson.
Last year's line up included Billy Painter (Who is also chief Editor of The Painter's Chronicle) as The Fool, Dario Coates
Dario Coates
Dario Coates is an English actor. He has so far portrayed the role of Alex Neeson in the television ITV soap Coronation Street. He attended Calder High School, where he studied for his GCSEs and A Levels, and also attends Calderdale Theatre School...
as St George, Sam Harris as Bold Slasher, Jack Deighton as The Doctor, Rowan Carter as The black prince of Paradine, Jacob Jones as The king Of Egypt, Joe Cotton as Hector, Desmond as Toss Pott. And Clara Collet and Jess Woodhead as Directors.
The Calder High students perform at St George's Square, Hebden Bridge
Hebden Bridge
Hebden Bridge is a market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale, in West Yorkshire, England. It forms part of the Upper Calder Valley and lies 8 miles west of Halifax and 14 miles north east of Rochdale, at the confluence of the River Calder and the River Hebden .A 2004 profile of...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, and then move up the hill and perform in Heptonstall
Heptonstall
Heptonstall is a small village and civil parish within the Calderdale borough of West Yorkshire, England. The population of Heptonstall, including the hamlets of Colden and Slack, is 1,448. The town of Hebden Bridge lies directly to the southeast...
.
The 2011 performance had Billy Painter as Saint George, Rowan Carter as The Black Prince (It is those two last year of being able to do Pace Egg), Jack Deighton as The Fool, Sam Harris as Bold Slasher, Joe Cotton as Hector, Tom Jennings as Toss Pot and James Kay as The Doctor and last and least Sol Cotton as King Of Egypt. This year's performance was enhanced by a meeting in battle of the Calder High Black Prince and the seniors' Black Prince played by father and son.
Pace Egg Quotes
- "For pray you remember...tis pace egging time" - The Fool
- "Mince Pies hot, Mince Pies cold, I'll send thee to Black Sam before thou is nine days old" - St George/Hector
- "Cursed Christian!" - King of Egypt
Further reading
- Cass, E. The Pace-Egg Plays of the Calder Valley, London: FLS Books, 2004.
- Jennings, B. Pennine Valley: History of Upper Calderdale Dalesman Publishing Co Ltd, 1992.