The legend of St George and the Dragon will be acted out with excruciating poetry and awful jokes as part of a Boxing Day tradition.

St Albans Mummers will perform the time-honoured masque for the 52nd year, at five locations around the city centre.

The show takes a less-than-serious look at life, death and resurrection, with several fierce battles involving St George and unlikely opponents, dubious cures unknown to science, excruciating poetry and awful jokes.

The mummers' first performance was in 1967 and the play is essentially the same today, but the cast has changed a bit over the years and some of the original audience now bring their grandchildren! Each performance is a little different, as the players like to include topical items and interact with our public.

Money donated by the audiences goes to two local charities, Youth Talk and Emmaus.

The timetable for Boxing Day this year is:

  • 11.30am - The Museum / Old Town Hall
  • 12.15pm - The White Hart Hotel
  • 1pm - West End of St Albans Abbey
  • 1.45pm - The Fighting Cocks
  • 2.30pm - The Clock Tower