The Britannia Coconut Dancers from Bacup in Lancashire do their really quite strange thing. For the purpose of this 1930 film they have omitted a traditional part of their costume, i.e. they haven't blacked up, although I'm pretty sure this is a concession to technology rather than political correctness. They still dance every year, by the way (well, not this lot, they're all dead, but the current 'Nutters', as they are affectionately known). They even have a website where I purchased a tea towel.
I was told by a blacked up morris man (www.silurianmorris.org.uk/html/appearance.html) once that it was all to do with hiding your identity when begging. Farm labourers during the winter, when there was no work in the fields, would perform and then pass around the hat.
ReplyDeleteThe 'Silurians' perform outside my local every Boxing Day but I've never seen The Doctor pop by to keep tabs on them.
Ah, that makes sense - thought it had something to do with the minstrel tradition.
ReplyDeleteKeep your eyes open for the Doctor, when he shows up he might need a new companion.