Isca Morrismen Dancing Programme for 2008
The Isca Morrismen maintain a long-standing tradition of dancing out most Wednesday evenings during the summer period at a variety of real ale pubs where we bring entertainment to the community and provide the men themselves with the opportunity to enjoy good ale!
Outside of this period we are either busy practicing or travelling to a variety of events. We dance throughout the old county of Gwent, now spread across the City of Newport and the county boroughs of Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire and Torfaen and are always delighted to welcome new members, whether beginners or experienced dancers and musicians.
    
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This year we are delighted that our traditional dancing programme is being sponsored by local Welsh Breweries, all of which are producers of excellent real ale and to whom we are grateful for their wholehearted support. Please enjoy their real ales and visit their websites to learn more by clicking on any of the pictures. In addition we acknowledge the encouragement and support of The Gladiator, our practice venue during the winter. |
Period up to May 2008:-
Over the winter practice season our events are:
January 2008
Sunday 6th - 12th Night Mari Llwyd
| 7.00 p.m. onwards |
Starting from the Star Inn, Llanvihangel Tor-y-Mynydd with performances in the village during the course of the evening. A chance to enjoy this traditional Welsh folk custom, re-enacted and revived by the community with joviality, banter, music and dancing helped along by the Isca Morrismen. Around 9.00 p.m. the Mari returns to the Star Inn after it's perambulation around the parish. |
Saturday 12th - Wassail at the Ostrich Inn
| 8.00 p.m. onwards |
A traditional cider wassail based on the Ostrich Inn at Newland, just to the south of Monmouth. The wassail begins at around 8.45 p.m. with the traditional ceremony followed by the passing around of a traditional wassail bowl filled with mulled cider - a real treat! |
Saturday 26th - Ripley Morrismen Ale
May to September 2008:-
Our programme for the summer dancing season from May onwards is shown below. Please note that changes to our programme are sometimes necessary due to circumstances beyond our control, so always check our Next Appearance page for the latest information.
May 2008
Thu 1st - May Day - Dancing at Dawn with Cardiff Ladies and others
| 5.30 - 6.40 a.m. 7.00 a.m. 8.15 a.m. |
Map Map Map |
Caerleon Amphitheatre Breakfast at The Gladiator The Gladiator, Malpas |
Mon 5th - May Day Bank Holiday Tour with Sweyns Ey Morrismen and others
| 9.30 a.m. 10.45 a.m. 12.45 p.m. 3.00 p.m. |
Map Map Map Map |
St Woolos Cathedral, Newport Nags Head Inn, Usk Hen and Chickens, Abergavenny Magor Spring Fair |
Sat 10th - Tredegar House Folk Festival, Newport
| 12.20 p.m. 12.45 p.m. 3.00 p.m. 4.10 p.m. |
Map | Buskers Stage Dance Procession Courtyard Stage Corus Pavillion Stage |
Wed 14th - Shirenewton Joint Tour with Tiger Feet Appalachian Dancers
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Map Map |
Tan House, Shirenewton Carpenters Arms, Mynyddbach |
Wed 21st - Cappers Joint Pub Tour with Lassington Oak Morrismen
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Map Map |
Boat Inn, Penallt Ostrich Inn, Newland |
Wed 28th - Joint Pub Tour with Forest of Dean Morrismen
| 8.15 p.m. 9.15 p.m. |
Map Map |
The Crown, St. Briavels The George Inn, St. Briavels |
Fri 30th - 8 p.m. Charity Fundraiser at The Gladiator, Newport
| 8.00 p.m. | Map | The Gladiator, Malpas |
June 2008
Wed 4th - Godfrey Morgan Joint Walking Tour of Newport
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Map Map |
Old Murenger House, Newport John Wallace Lintons, Newport |
Fri 6th to Sun 8th - De Akkermennekes Folk Festival, Belgium
| Weekend | Map | Performing throughout the weekend |
Wed 11th - Isca Silurum Joint Walking Tour of Caerleon with Cardiff Morris
| 8.30 p.m. 9.15 p.m. 9.45 p.m. |
Map Map Map |
Goldcroft Inn, Caerleon Red Lion Inn, Caerleon Bell Inn, Caerleon |
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Sat 14th - Judy and Friends Concert, Congress Theatre, Cwmbran That's Entertainment - A Charity Concert in Aid of Childline |
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| 7.30 p.m. onwards |
Map |
A pleasant evening to be spent on stage at the Congress Theatre participating in this local charity event. | |
Wed 18th - Caerphilly Borders - Joint Pub Tour with Cardiff Ladies
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Map Map |
Black Cock Inn, Caerphilly Otley Arms, Treforest |
Wed 25th - Pontypool Valleys - Joint Pub Tour with Shoostring
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Map Map |
Twyn-y-Ffrwyd Inn, Abersychan Globe Inn, Talywain |
July 2008
Wed 2nd - Valley Dragons Joint Pub Tour with Clocs Canton
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Map Map |
The Otter, Newbridge The Commercial, Pontymister |
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Sat 5th Two Rivers Folk Festival, Chepstow Around 25 Sides will be dancing in Chepstow Town Centre during the day and appearing at:
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Wed 9th - Tintern Wye Valley Pub Tour
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Map Map |
Fountain Inn, Trellech Grange Anchor Hotel, Tintern |
Sat 12th - Henllys Village Fete, Henllys, Cwmbran
| 2.30 p.m. onwards |
Map |
Henllys Village inc Doralt Inn and Cwrt Henllys |
Wed 16th - Archenfield Triangle with Cwmni Gwerin Pont-y-Pŵl
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Map Map |
Bridge Inn, Llanfoist, Abergavenny Hen and Chickens, Abergavenny |
August 2008
Sat 16th - Pontardawe Festival with Sweyns Ey Morris
| 10.30 a.m. onwards |
Map |
Pontardawe Town Centre |
September 2008
Wed 3rd - Godfrey Morgan Joint Pub Tour of Caerleon with Newport International Folk Dancers and Jawahir
| 8.30 p.m. 9.15 p.m. |
Map Map |
St Julian Inn, Caerleon Angel Hotel, Caerleon |
Wed 10th - Newport Levels Joint Tour with Gwerinwyr Gwent
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Map Map |
Port O Call Hotel, Marshfield Church House Inn, St Brides |
Wed 24th - Joint Pub Tour of Usk with Clocs Canton
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Map Map |
Three Salmons Hotel, Usk Royal Hotel, Usk |
October 2008
Wed 15th - Annual General Meeting (not dancing)
| 8.30 p.m. onwards |
Map |
The Gladiator, Newport |
From 8th October onwards
In the winter our practice season begins in October each year. Over the last few years we are grateful for the encouragement and support we have received from The Gladiator.
We meet every Wednesday evening from 8.00pm. onwards in the Function Room at The Gladiator for dancing, ale and convivial conversation. Come and Join Us and enjoy dancing in a fine pub which has a regular choice of excellent real ales.
In addition to our weekly practices, the following events are already pencilled in for this period:-
October 2008
Sat 25th - Otley Arms, Treforest
| 6.30 p.m. onwards |
Map |
An evening of dancing, music and song provided for the visitors to the Oct-O-Bar Fest Beer and Cider Festival being held in the Otley Arms - Along with plenty of sampling of both food and drink by us! |
November 2008
Sat 15th - RUFF Ceilidh
| 8.00 p.m. onwards |
Map |
Appearing at the Ceilidh at the University Hospital of Wales, Heath Hospital Sports and Social Club, Recreation Hall, Cardiff. |
Fri 21st - Cardiff Morris Winter Ale
| 7.30 p.m. onwards |
Penarth Conservative Club - A convivial evening to be spent with the Cardiff Morris at their Winter Ale just outside Cardiff. |
December 2008
Sat 6th - Isca Mummers Charity Tour
| 8.15 p.m. onwards |
The side will perform the Chepstow Mumming Play |
Sat 13th - Isca Mummers Charity Tour
| 8.15 p.m. onwards |
The side will perform the Chepstow Mumming Play |
For more details on the Mumming Play, it's historical background and pictures of Isca Mummers in action please see the following web pages on the Isca site:-
| Historical Background Folk Mumming Plays |
The Chepstow Mumming Play Isca Mummers in Action |
Fri 19th - Mendip Morrismen Ale
| 7.30 p.m. onwards |
The side will be attending the Mendip Men's ale evening in Wrington in the countryside between Weston super Mare and Bristol. |
Fri 26th - Boxing Day at the Ostrich Inn
| 12.15 p.m. onwards |
Our traditional one pub outing for Boxing Day at the Ostrich Inn in Newland, just to the south of Monmouth. Performances will be between 12.15 and 1.30 p.m., depending on both the weather and the audience. |
January 2009
Tuesday 6th - 12th Night Mari Llwyd
| 6.15 p.m. onwards |
Starting from the Star Inn, Llanvihangel Tor-y-Mynydd with performances in the village during the course of the evening. A chance to enjoy this traditional Welsh folk custom, re-enacted and revived by the community with joviality, banter, music and dancing helped along by the Isca Morrismen. Around 9.00 p.m. the Mari returns to the Star Inn after it's perambulation around the parish. |
Saturday 10th - Wassail at the Ostrich Inn
| 8.00 p.m. onwards |
A traditional cider wassail based on the Ostrich Inn at Newland, just to the south of Monmouth. The wassail begins at around 8.45 p.m. |