| Where: | Antrobus, Cheshire at the Antrobus Arms and at pubs in surrounding villages |
| When: | Early to mid November |
| Time: | Late evening (approx 8.30 onwards) |
Antrobus Soulcakers are a tradtional mumming group who perform in November each year around the pubs in Antrobus and the surrounding district. Soulcaking or souling takes place in early November from All Souls Eve (1st November) and this group’s season includes 1st November and the following two weekends, with usually 3 performances at different pubs each night starting around 8.30 onwards. Detailed programmes can be found on the Master Mummers website (see link below). The group perform a traditional hero/combat play, involving a sword fight with the Black Prince who has to be revived by the Doctor, and an appearance by Dick the Wild Horse of Antrobus who causes mayhem wherever he goes (he’s a star who deserves his own fan-club!). The Antrobus gang have perhaps the longest pedigree all the surviving soul caking groups today.
Helpful Hints
Check their programme schedule on Facebook or Master Mummers for any changes before turning up and bear in mid that the timings are approximate! The full details are confirmed fairly close to the performance dates (usually late October).
Be prepared for a bit of a squash as the performance space can be tight.
Click here for the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/soulcakers/
Click here for the Antrobus Arms, the Soulcakers home pub: http://www.antrobusarms.co.uk
Click here for programme on the Master Mummers website : http://www.mastermummers.org/groupslist.php?oID=11&search=&submit=Search&ctrl=new&csName=&otCode=G&format=summary&step=20&p=1
Hello,
Two of your good men came to our pub last week and told us about what was going to happen, I was unaware of what it is that you do and misunderstood what i was being told.
Please do get in touch as we would love for you to pay us a visit as you have done for the last 25 years.
Please excuse my ignorance.
Andy THE BIRD IN HAND MOBBERLEY.
Hi Andy,
The Calendarcustoms website isn’t directly connected to the organisation of the events featured on it, so I’ve passed your details on to Chris Eyres of the Antrobus Soulcakers. I expect he’ll be in touch soon!
Best Wishes,
Averil
Very keen, having heard from Hatton’s John Done, to see the soul-cakerz. I could travel to any venue where the Antrobus group is performing, and hope we might get you to perform in Hatton…if not THIS year, then next.
Having seen them perform, I can highly recommend an evening soul-caking – you’ll have a great time!Here at calendarcustoms we’re not connected to the organisation of the Antrobus group but you can contact them direct at wimccormack@btinternet.com or check the master mummers page a bit nearer the time at http://www.mastermummers.org/groupslist.php?oID=11&search=&submit=Search&ctrl=new&csName=&otCode=G&format=summary&step=20&p=1 – the listing for this year isn’t up there yet but it should be soon. It takes a while to sort the schedule out with so many performances at lots of different venues but you never know, you might persuade them onto your patch if you ask nicely 🙂
Best wishes & hope you enjoy it,
Averil
Hi,
Named Henry,but prefer H,saw The Antrobus Soul Cakers,or Band at The Wheatsheaf Weaverham All Hallows Eve 2023, IE last night. Be Only seen once before year before COVID at the now closed Holybush at Bartington,some say Little Leigh,and have wanted to support them again,as Traditions/ Rituals like this are so rare in this IT,and soon AI led World.Had a chat after their superb performance, didn’t get his name,with the Army Officer character, apologies found this site & didn’t want to lose link,he told me the Plays go back upto 500 years ago,and cover Land Ownership,Fertility,Harvest end and more,& that Antrobus has been recognised as the oldest. Even having Academics from Oxford & London researching their origins.
The performances are worthy of National Theatre standard,and they had performed at three other Pubs,prior to this one that Evening.I have started to research the Mummers & Soul Cakers,sure you are aware,it seems the Mummers plays tend to be at Christmas.The site I found was based in Warburton,& hadn’t known until last night from the gentleman this Band or Group existed. Based at the Saracens Head,but it talks of chap books that contained the songs sung,and am going to see if any have been published. Do you know if have,and also what Year was Antrobus first recorded that such plays were acted ? See a Colonel ? Boyd in the early 1900s campaigned for the Plays to be reinstated in the 1920s,and have been performed every year since by Antrobus.
Could you thank all the members,and I will be attending another venue,this Friday namely The Bulls Head Davenham, where I will ask for an email address,as I only use Facebook for limited usage.
Really is such a privilege to watch & be part of.
Many Thanks
H Gavine
Hi, and thanks for your message. The soul cakers are indeed well worth seeing and make a great night out! Sadly I don’t know whether or not the songs have been published relatively recently (the original chapbooks will be hard to source) or exactly when Antrobus’s play was first recorded (though in Cooper and `Sullivan’s “Maypoles, Martyrs & Mayhem” it states that the plays go back some 400 years, though not where that date comes from)- but I expect the actors themselves will have a more detailed knowledge so would advise asking them direct. Often the custodians of traditions are more than happy to share their history with those who take an interest. I can also recommend Brody’s “The English Mummers and Their Plays” and Save Roud’s “The English Year”. Hope you enjoy Friday’s performance!
Best wishes,
Averil