The Return of Green Man
a giant mummer's pageant

1995 - Present conceived and directed by David Anderson

What is a Mummers play?

A mummers play is a celebration of the death of the old and the rebirth of the new. Three things must happen for this celebration to have its effect: there must be a horrible, terrible fight; some or all of the combatants must die; and, by the application of some potion, they must all be resurrected. Mummers plays were often an hilarious excuse for the lowly to mock those in high positions, and in some cases became a vehicle for the expression of exceedingly strong social and political opinion. In some places, Newfoundland for example, mummers plays were banned. Times are different now, of course. We would never mock those in power and hence have no fear of being banned or similarly mistreated.

The Return of the Green Man is a giant puppet pageant featuring the World, the Birds, the Gazelles, the Dragon of Life, the Prophet of Doom, the Child of Courage, and of course, the Green Man. Boisterously narrated by Barley Corn and a cacophony of drums and whistles, it solicits audience participation and small acts of defiance