Roots
As the Phezants contemplate our next two Hereward shows in historically focused settings- at Ely Museum and Elmsworth History Group - we think about what it means to retell the past...
"Without our stories or our songs, how will we know where we come from?" asks Steve Knightley in his modern folk classic "Roots" and the Penland Phezants believe they tap one of England's deepest with their Hereward the Wake show, coming to Ely Museum on December 8.
The show is brim full of stirring new singalong folk ballads about Hereward and his Robin Hood exploits, specially penned by Collins Education author and poet Gareth Calway with guitarist and singer Andy Wall, director of the Ely Folk Festival. The atmosphere of an ancient Saxon story-telling is thrillingly suggested by harp music composed and performed by Welsh Romany-influenced Vanessa Wood-Davies as an accompaniment to exciting episodes of the narrative.
Hereward hailed from Bourne in Lincolnshire but his connection to Ely is both historic and legendary. His heroic defence of Ely Abbey alongside its Saxon monks until their tragic betrayal of its secret paths through the surrounding fens is probably the most famous and stirring of his exploits. Ely Museum is unique as a venue in curating surely the most comprehensive exhibition about Hereward the Wake in England and the Phezants are delighted to have it as a set for their performance.
Gareth Calway's narrative is closely based on 11C Latin chronicles compiled by 12C monks as well as archaeological evidence found in the fen and historically plausible elements of later tradition so there is more actual history in this hero tale than in many national legends. Indeed, several adventures later attributed to Robin Hood seem to be rooted in Hereward's real life Saxon guerrilla warfare against the Normans in the Northamptonshire and Lincoln greenwoods.
The Latin sources are not uncritical of Hereward but declare that "it will encourage noble deeds and induce tolerance to know him." Like them, the Phezants admire Hereard's now rather unfashionable 'English' virtues of defence of the underdog, defiance of overwhelming odds and essential moral decency. Hereward was no Little Englander either - he married a fiercely independent Belgian wife, was fluent in European languages and learned his craft as a brilliant young general of Irish and European armies before coming home to defend his homeland
"Rule Britannia or Swing Low/ Are these the only songs the English know?" astutely demands Steve Knightly. Not this English band, nor this English hero, is the Phezants reply. "…The Union Jack, it's my flag too and I want it back."
"As Free As The Waters that Flow Through The Fen: A Very English Resistance; The True Story of Hereward The Wake." Ely Museum 7 pm Saturday Dec 8 £8, £6 conc, 01353 664706; private performance at Elmswell History Group Thursday Dec 13.