COMMUNITY ACTORS [about 400]
Comprise
| Participants and Figurants | |
| Individuals | Tideswell Procession: [100] |
| Sun | May Tree Procession: [100] |
| Frost | Morris Dance Group: [25] |
| May Queen | Dancers: 16 |
| Hobby Horse Dancer | Attendants: 9 |
| Club-Man | Hobby Horse Group: [25] |
| Fool | Dancers: 15 |
| Witch | Attendants: 10 |
| King | Tumblers and Jugglers: [25] |
| Queen | Rustic Play-Actors: [25] |
| Noah | Winter Group: [50] |
| Noah’s Wife | Spring Group: [50] |
THEME
Celebration of an Elizabethan May Day Festival on the outskirts of an English town.
ACTION
1: CONTEST BETWEEN SPRING AND WINTER
A group of 25 young men, representing Winter, all dressed in close-fitting black garments, enter from Caliban’s cell. They carry a ball and, commanded by one of their number—Frost—advance slowly and dejectedly and lie down near the centre of the ground guarding the ball. A group of 25 young men, dressed in tight-fitting green garments, representing Spring, enter through the right Interlude Gate. Headed by one of their number—Sun—they come forward running and shouting. Winter[29] rise and stand in defence of the ball. A scuffle ensues and the ball is released from the scrimmage. It is then kicked about by both sides, Spring trying to force it toward the water,[30] Winter repelling it therefrom. Sun and Frost encourage their respective supporters but do not touch the ball. Groups of villagers come in, by twos and threes [20 to 25 in number], and join the ranks of Spring, who are thus enabled to overpower Winter. Eventually, one of the Spring group secures the ball, holds it aloft and, surrounded by his followers, runs toward the water. Winter follow, fatigued and languid. As the Spring man approaches the water, maidens, 10 or 12 in number, enter from various quarters and swell the group. The ball is then raised and ceremonially thrown into the water; whereupon, the girls join Spring in hunting Winter back again into their cave.
2: PROCESSIONAL DANCE THROUGH VILLAGE