Here's some photos from my trip to Heptonstall and Hebden Bridge on Friday
Heptonstall is situated at the top of a high, and improbably steep, hill, and while I've climbed that hill many times in my younger days, I'm not so daft now
The hill defeated invading forces during the English Civil War, and I'm thankful for the small half-hourly bus, which winds its way up the vertiginous cobbled road, like a mountain goat. Having arrived at the well-kept old fashioned train station in Hebden Bridge though, we missed the bus, so walked into the pretty town, alongside the canal.
We came across another Pace-egg play, but these were not the Heptonstall players, and so we boarded the next bus to Heptonstall.
As the bus climbs the hill in low-gear, with increasingly spectacular views, of the valley below, I always wonder that it can actually make the journey. A few folks, younger, and hardier, than myself, were making their way, on foot, up the steep hillside, clearly heading for the Heptonstall Pace-egg play, which is a much-loved local tradition (see my previously posted links). We were running a little later than usual, and as we alighted the bus, we saw the players walk out of one of the many village 'snickets', and begin to assemble for their walk up the steep cobbled main street to Weaver's Square.
Cheers went up as the company entered the square for another year, to perform the first Pace-egg play since 2019. Sadly, not all of the players had made it through what has been a difficult time for everyone. The longstanding 'King of Egypt' had passed away just a few weeks back, and applause followed a brief announcement. Pace-egg is very much about renewal, and celebrating the birth of Spring, after the darkness of Winter, a time to get together with friends again, in the open air, and look forward to better days ahead.
After their traditional opening parade and sing-song, the new master of ceremonies, addressed the crowd, before the play began. Each year, money is raised for both a local charity, and an overseas one, and this year the focus was on Ukraine.
With a few subtle changes, usually reflecting some national or international topic (Vladimir Putin's ears must have been burning this year!), the play follows the same form each year. The crowd know the form, and react as to a traditional pantomime, with exaggerated cheers and groans, participating in the chants and jokes, which are the same every year. In the play, 'Saint George' takes on a series of challengers, the first being 'Bold Slasher', who is despatched after much impressive, and exaggerated, sword-play.
The crowd moan, in pity for the fallen warrior, and lamenting, St George calls for a doctor, who duly steps forward, producing from his pocket, a bottle of 'Nip Nap' elixir. This is administered to the fallen Slasher, and to the cheers of the crowd, he is revived.
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The chap who plays 'The Doctor' in the Heptonstall play first performed it as a boy 
