St Albans Mummers back museum bid and launch Walk of Fame
Cheque presentation to Annie Brewster - Credit: Archant
Mummer was the word in St Albans Town Hall on Saturday (9) when a cheque was presented towards the new museum and art gallery project.
Cheque presentation to Annie Brewster - Credit: Archant
St Albans Mummers, who have been performing their unique Boxing Day play in the city for nearly half a century, arrived in full costume to hand over £200 to a ‘convict’ in the old prison cells and courtroom, Cllr Annie Brewster, trustee of the St Albans Museums and Galleries Trust.
The money will go towards the conversion of the Town Hall into a new city museum and art gallery.
The Mummers play follows a ‘hero-combat’ theme and is performed in five different venues around the city annually. It is a descendant of traditional folk-plays, once widespread in Britain, and features characters like Santa Claus, St George and the Dragon and the Lord of Misrule. All the mummers appeared in costume for the handover - probably the first sighting of Father Christmas in 2016.
St George commented “The Mummers are very pleased to contribute in some way to the exciting new Museum and Art Gallery project. Our Town Hall seems to have lacked real purpose for years but would be a perfect location for culture in the city.
“Many of us have strong connections to the building and it is tremendous news that it will return to such good public use.”
Cllr Brewster said: I am very grateful to the Mummers for their contribution to the project and for the wonderful play that they perform each Christmas in our city.”
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The handover was also a chance to highlight the oak panel benefactor, Walk of Fame scheme, based on the historic wooden panels in the Georgian courtroom and graffiti left by prisoners.
So far £30,000 in public donations has been received to reserve names on the limited number of oak panels.
To include your name on the oak panels, click here or pick up a leaflet in the new Visitor Information Centre located in the Alban Arena.
