HASLEMERE Mummers will celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2018 with many happy performances of their traditional play in the town centre.

Some of the players in the pre-Christmas production, have been playing their parts since the first performance in December 1968.

The latest featuring such colourful characters as the Turkish Knight, the Bold Slasher, the King of Egypt and Beelzebub, was enacted outside Haslemere Museum two days before Christmas.

The mummers also traditionally stage a second performance by Haslemere Town Hall as the clock strikes midday.

The Haslemere Mummers have been a popular pre-Christmas town fixture for many years and provided the grand finale for an action-packed month of festivities.

Museum education officer Kay Topping said: “The museum was very busy on the Saturday before Christmas.

“There were not only many visitors to see Father Christmas in his Victorian parlour, but also lots of people who came to see the mummers play.

“This traditional folk play is performed every year here at the museum and also outside the town hall.

“It has goodies and baddies and plenty of opportunities for audience participation in the best pantomime traditions of cheering and booing.

“It was a great way to kick off the festive season with a bit of good fun and silliness.

“The museum is very honoured to host this event and thanks the players for their great enthusiasm.”

Mummer’s plays are believed to date back to the mid to late 18th century.