Tipteering

Come and see us on Boxing Day!

We're at the The Castle Inn Hotel, Bramber, BN44 3WE at 11am and The Frankland Arms, Washington, RH20 4AL at 12.30pm.

Tipteering is a very old Sussex custom. It is a form of Mummers play where the parts were all played by men, who kept the same character every year. The texts remained approximately the same, surviving just by word of mouth. In 1880 the costumes were made of calico, heavily trimmed with ribbons and shredded paper, and decorated with ornaments. Nowadays, more creativity has crept in!

Archives say “the performers were traditionally inebriated - the alcohol having been kindly presented by their hosts. The plays were performed at pubs and great houses, and the tradition continues at Boxgrove, Horsham, Steyning and Chanctonbury Ring.” Nowadays, not all of this is true!