Sound Recordings, Cheshire

Description

Jim Wright, recorded at home in Antrobus, talks about his involvement with the Antrobus Soul-Cakers; roles played; first experience of play as a bedtime story told by father and grandfather; pig killing and use of real blood in grandfather's time; the play in other villages, dying out [?after World War One] and current interest in Antrobus; mixing of versions (reference to ?Sevenoaks in Cheshire); gang members; no rehearsals; new elements; soul-cakers as ghosts; character of Beelzebub and old beliefs; symbolism of the horse's head; gang rivalry of the past and keeping the horse's head; why perform the play; publicity and public perception of the custom; performance venues, including country houses, pubs; the collection; the future; costumes. [Tr. 4] Cecil Bland, recorded at home in Appleton Thorn [collector announcement names informant as Grey Hodnett]; involvement with Antrobus Soul-Cakers since 1948; childhood recollections of the play and the horse's head; first involvement on leaving the Army, playing part of the Doctor in a young gang; history of gang and gangs in other villages; dying out of custom in these villages and maintenance of interest in Antrobus; informant's enjoyment in participation; publicity and public perception of the custom; horse symbolism; tone of the play; performing at private parties by invitation; audience; internal disputes during the 1950s/1960s; loss of members to other interests; social aspect of the custom; performance times; transport; importance of horse's head and competition from other gangs for ownership; history of current head; play text and modern influences; audience and support of local people; when performed; explanation of terms soul-caking and soul-cake; Beelzebub character; elements of surprise in the play; acting abilities; costumes; comedy/accidents during performance; children's fear of the horse; reference to local supernatural legend - Marbury Hall apparition; Marbury Dun (horse); horses' heads. [Tr. 5] 6 of 9.

Metadata

Identifier	vdwxq9fs
IRN	414356
Class Mark	LAVC/SRE/A305r
Level	Item
Type of Record	Archives - ISAD(G)
Peristent Link	http://prototype1.library.leeds.ac.uk/vdwxq9fs
Collection(s)	Leeds Archive of Vernacular Culture
Category	Archive
Parent Record	Audiotape Sound Recordings
Creator(s)	Pattison, Susan
Date	[1975]
Size and Medium	1 x 12.7cm open reel spool, Duration: 72' 07".

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