Up to the turn of the last century it had always been the custom in Hamstall Ridware for young men to perform a mummers' play on New Year's Day. We know this because the Reverend John Octavious Coussmaker, Rector of Saint Michael's church from 1884 to 1921, recorded the details in the year 1900, suspecting that this tradition might die out.

'Sixteen years ago, it was the usual custom on New Year's Day for one's hall door to be suddenly thrown open, without any knocking, ringing or other ceremony, and five or six young men dressed in any eccentric or gay clothing they could get hold of (An old soldier's coat was especially prized), would enter in and then proceed to act a little rough play in the hall. They were always careful not to do any harm, though they pretended to be very wild fellows indeed.’

This tradition was rekindled by Ridware Theatre, sometime around 1995, and ever since then eight ‘unknown’ male members of the theatre have performed this play around the local pubs, in order to raise funds for
St. Giles Hospice.