Maypoles and Mischief, Merrymaking and Mayhem – A Social History of May Celebrations – Weds 27th Apr

Doors 7.00pm. Start 7.30pm. Adv ticket £6. OTD ticket £8.

May is a special time of the year, a time of festivals and fairs, of revels, riots, dancing and protest. It also lies at the heart of a season of celebrations. This illustrated talk looks at the social history of May celebrations and the importance of Mayday, Whitsun and Summer Games. Richly accompanied with illustrations, paintings and photographs and live music, the talk traces how these festivities have changed and adapted through the ages, how the idea of ‘may’ is expressed in literature and folk song and some of the battles fought over how we celebrate. A special focus will be traditions and stories of celebrations in Somerset and how people celebrate today. Presented by Tim Hill

Tim has been making celebrations for over 30 years. He has played with samba bands around Stonehenge and on the back of trucks at Notting Hill carnival, led giants through the streets of London, created Olympic Torch events, cooked celebratory feasts, written wassail songs, and taken funeral services. He has been researching traditions of celebration, outdoor music, ritual noise, parades and processions and the ways we love to gather and feast and dance and sometimes fall over.

Tim works as musical director on outdoor shows across the UK, and with the Mellstock Band he recreates the English rural music of the 18th and 19th centuries, appearing in many film and TV productions like the classic BBC Pride and Prejudice.