The official website is at http://axbridgepageant.com/Axbridge_Pageant_News It is a bit out of date but from now on it will be slowly updated – otherwise I run everything on my own website here: http://www.harrymottram.co.uk/axbridge/axbridge-pageant-2020/

More news on the FREE Pageant Preview and Recruitment day on Saturday 22nd January in Axbridge Town Hall. Talks, films, live theatre, sign up for the pageant, talk to those involved, displays and sample costumes – plus a separate live rock concert in the evening.

11.00: Welcome from the Pageant’s artistic director John Bailey)

11:05: An introduction to The Redress of the Past Pageants Project by Professor Mark Freeman, University College London

11:25: Pageant Fever! Historical Pageants in Britain, 1905-present. An illustrated talk by Professor Paul Readman, King’s College London

12:20: The material culture of historical pageantry: souvenirs and mementoes. An illustrated talk by Ellie Reid, Oxfordshire History Centre

1:00pm: Lunch1.45pm: Pageants on film. A talk with film screenings by Trevor Bailey (Windrose Rural Media Trust)

2.20pm: Music and Historical Pageants. An illustrated talk with musical accompaniment by Dr Parker Gordon (University of St Andrews)

Followed by live theatre – a preview of some of the scenes in the pageant including The Monmouth Rebellion, The Fighting Vicar of Axbridge the Reverend Gould who clashed with the reformer Hannah More – and the arrival of the collector of folk songs Cecil Sharpe at the turn of the century in Edwardian England.

Make sure you don’t miss the event and come along for part of the day and find out about the town’s big event over the August Bank Holiday weekend 27-29 August.Wear a mask – and all Covid regulations will be followed to make you feel safe.

More details to follow. See http://www.harrymottram.co.uk/axbr…/axbridge-pageant-2020/