| Where: | Warburton, Cheshire at the Saracen's Head and other pubs in the locality and Warbuton Church (Saturday afternoon) |
| When: | Early to mid November |
| Time: | Evenings from 7.20 pm onwards & Saturday from 2pm-check schedule for exact timings |
Souling or Soulcaking is a tradition in the North-West of England characterised by performances of traditional mumming plays which, in addition to the usual sword-fight and revival of a combatant, feature a wild hobby horse. The name is derived from the dating of the plays around All Souls Day, 2nd November. The group at Warburton are a revivalist side dating from the late 1970s and their home is the Saracen’s Head in the village. Their season usually covers at least six nights (1st November and the following Friday and Saturday followed by the next Thursday, Friday and Saturday) with additional daytime performances on the final Saturday; peformances are at a number of pubs in the locality but usually the first and last are “at home”.
Helpful Hints
Check link for full details and times before setting off as the programme can be subject to change at relatively short notice – it’s quite a long list of pubs in a short time so planning the schedule is complicated and varies year-on-year . The pubs around Knutsford can be fairly crowded so be prepared for a squash!
Click here for the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WarburtonSoulingPlay/
Click here for the website : http://www.larchfieldhouse.co.uk/Souling/WarburtonSoulingPlay.htm
Will there be a series of souling plays this year 2014? It’s fantastic that such traditions are still to be found and on my own doorstep too!
Hi Graham,
There will indeed be souling plays this year starting next weekend on November 1st! Check out this page for a full schedule with approximate timings and all the locations : http://www.larchfieldhouse.co.uk/Souling/WarburtonSoulingPlay.htm
It’s often a bit last-minute as there are lots of places to fit in so keep checking that link – they will put all the info out but it’s often quite near performance dates. When we went a couple of years ago we managed to find them and I’m sure you will too! If you’re really keen you might fit in the similar souling plays at Antrobus and Comberbach as well (see separate articles and follow the links on those pages for their performance details – again keep checking back until all the info is available. Enjoy!
Best Wishes,
Averil