Playing to a capacity crowd at the Walsall Campus theatre of the University of Wolverhampton on Saturday the Bayard’s Colts troupe performed the Landlady and the Dragon and brought the series of four Mummer’s plays to a highly successful conclusion. As well as entertaining the packed theatre the event was streamed live around the world and a video of the performance will shortly be available for viewing on this site.

The event concluded a busy fortnight during which the play was performed outdoors in Walsall marketplace and indoors at the Bookmark Bloxwich theatre. This brings to a close a series of performances featuring local residents who have volunteered their time to rehearse and perform what had proved to be a wonderful series of Mummer’s plays written by local playwright David Calcutt.

The final performance of the last play in the current Bayard’s Colts street theatre cycle will be streamed live round the world (technology permitting). The performance, taking place on the Walsall Campus of Wolverhampton University, begins at 3.00pm GMT.

At that time you should be able to see the performance in the video window at the right hand side of this web page.

A recorded version will be posted shortly if you happen to miss the live stream so here’s looking forward to a great last performance!

The traditional “ Walking the Fair” event to celebrate part of Walsall’s unique heritage and history once again made its way from the Crossing at St Paul’s through the town centre market lead by The Mayor and Mayoress of Walsall and an updated version of the Bayard’s Colts. The town Cryer read sections of the town’s market charter granted by William Rufus in around 1225, the towns oldest written archive . Revived in 1996 the Civic Society, with key support from the Mayor’s office and local traders have made Walking the Fair a key event in the civic calendar.

The Walk celebrates both the heritage link of the market, the unique Walsall Bayards Colts project and the traders and enterprise that made Walsall grow and flourish.

The Mayor said, “This has been one of the  highlights of my Mayoral Year and it is important that we value and support these heritage events.”

Tony Kemshall, Chairman of the Civic Society and organiser of the event said, “The Walking the Fair and the Bayard’s Colts Project help to remind us of the history and heritage of Walsall and engender real pride of place in the town we live and work.”

Now that Spring is (almost) here we can look forward to performances of the final play in the Bayard’s Colts series, ‘The Landlady and the Dragon’. Kicking off in Walsall Marketplace on Saturday 11th May and then at Bookmark Bloxwich on 12th May this will be the last chance to see this great troupe of actors and muscians as part of the Heritage Lottery funded project. For details see the leaflet below and watch this space for news on future developments.

The third in the series of the Bayard’s Colts mummer’s plays, ‘The Lovers and the Pirates’, is now in rehearsals and indoor and outdoor performance dates have now been set. The information is shown in the poster below so get along to see another rip roaring production of what’s fast becoming Walsall’s most popular play series.

After an exhilerating time performing The Devil and the Alchemist at The Performance Hub at the University of Wolverhampton’s campus in Walsall on Saturday 24th November the cast and crew gather for a group photograph. More pictures of the show, set to the now famout Tat Man Song,  can be seen at Performance Hub Pics

To coincide with the successful performance of The Alchemist and the Devil on Saturday 24th November at The Performance Hub in Walsall the Bayard’s Colts project has now released a music video of ‘The Tat Man Song’ on YouTube.

The song opened and closed the show and features many of the performers who played the characters in the production. The video can be accessed here.

A great video and a great tune. Go watch and tell your friends!

The curious history behind the mysterious Bayard’s Colts will be explored in a special illustrated talk at Walsall Museum on Tuesday 4 December.

The talk takes place from 2-3pm.  It costs £1 per person to attend, payable on the day.  Advance booking is essential as places are limited.  Please contact the Museum on 01922 653116 or email museum@walsall.gov.uk to reserve your place.

The talk will explore the theories about the possible origins and age of the Bayard’s Colts, as well as presenting what we know of their history from documentary and other sources.  It will be presented by Jennifer Thomson, Community History Curator at Walsall Museum, who has been undertaking research into their history.  People attending the talk will be able to view the Colts for themselves and contribute their own ideas to the debate on their origins.

The Museum’s mysterious Bayard’s Colts are a curious surviving relic from Walsall’s past: a set of 17 carved wooden clubs and weapons carried in procession behind the Mayor on ceremonial civic occasions.  The clubs are completely unique, nothing else like them is them is know in Britain.  They are at least 300 years old, and probably much older, but their exact age, their origins and even how they got their name are shrouded in mystery.

There is a major event for the Bayard’s Colts project set for Saturday 24^th November at the Performance Hub theatre, University of Wolverhampton site at Gorway in Walsall with performances at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

This event will include a multimedia presentation on the project covering The Bayard’s Colts history and the unique strand of Black Country heritage we should all support and enjoy.

There will also be a live performance of the new mummer’s play:

                                              “The Alchemist and the Devil” by David Calcutt

This play will form a key part in the new Mummers play cycle.  You can book tickets for the event online at:

http://performancehub.eventbrite.co.uk

Please do your best to support and encourage others to do so by circulating this information.

Any further queries re tickets / sponsorship/ support / involvement etc please call 07885 317 491 or email Tony Kemshall at tony.kemshall@imrcl.org.uk

At Walsall Museum this half term we’re taking our inspiration from our mysterious Bayard’s Colts to create some special activities to get children creative and having fun.

Draw the Bayard’s Colts
Tuesday 23 October
10.30am-12.30pm and 2-4pm
Free of charge
Using the Museum’s historic and mysterious Bayard’s Colts as your models, you can sketch the Colts themselves or design your own drawing of a carved head.  There are also some fun Colts colouring activities for the little ones.  All materials are provided and the activity is suitable for all ages.  There’s no need to book, just turn up between the hours given.

Make a Spooky Head
Thursday 25 October
11am-1pm
75p per child
Get crafty in this special children’s craft drop-in session making spooky heads inspired by the mysterious Bayard’s Colts. All materials are provided and the activity is suitable for children aged 5-12 years old.  There’s no need to book, just turn up between the hours given. Parents or carers must remain with children throughout.

The Bayard’s Colts are a curious surviving relic fromWalsall’s past. They are a collection of seventeen clubs which were carried behind the Mayor in ceremonial processions at the openings of markets and fairs and on other civic occasions. The Colts are at least 300 years old, and probably much older, but their exact age, their origins and even their name are shrouded in mystery.

Walsall Museum is located on the first floor of the Central Library & Museum building on Lichfield Street in Walsall town centre, WS1 1TR.

For further information please call Walsall Museum on 01922 653116 or email museum@walsall.gov.uk.