At a time when there are now very few "traditional" mummers plays still being performed, it is perhaps surprising that a play in Uttoxeter in Staffordshire is still performed every Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, with very little involvement from folklorists and the folk revival.
There are references to the play in the town since at least the 1890s, and there is evidence that it has been performed almost every year since then. Today, the play is performed by members of one family.
This paper outlines the recorded history of the performances of the play using personal recollections, newspaper references and the personal observations of the writer since 1979. In particular, the paper concentrates on the people involved in performance, the importance of family relationships, the costume and the locations of performance through the twentieth century - all the ingredients that make up the "usual tour".
