Mardles

The Suffolk Miracle - Syzewell Gap

A MUSICAL DRAMA of FORBIDDEN LOVE

A squire’s daughter is sent away by her father after she falls for a lowly horseman. But can love find a way to reunite the couple? The Suffolk Miracle, a musical drama presented by Open Space Theatre and the Syzewell Gap folk band, will be performed at several venues along the Suffolk-Norfolk border late May/early June.

Written by former Suffolk school teacher, Beverley Barnett, who lives at Dennington, the play is based on a centuries-old, local folk myth.

A ballad based on The Suffolk Miracle was first published in the late 17^th century.

The play’s director, David Green, said: “It is a great story to tell with the help of some brilliant actors and musicians.”

Syzewell Gap has been entertaining audiences throughout East Anglia for 40 years. Open Space Theatre, founded in 2008, is based at Wingfield Barns, near Eye.

Performances of The Suffolk Miracle are as follows:

Thursday, May 25 – Wingfield Barns 01379 384505

Friday, May 26 – Laxfield Village Hall 01986 872481

Saturday, May 27 – Seagull Theatre, Lowestoft 01502 589726

Wednesday, May 31 – Beccles Public Hall 01502 770060

Thursday, June 1 – Diss Corn Hall 01379 652241

Friday, June 2 – The Cut, Halesworth 0300 3033 211

Saturday, June 3 – Fisher Theatre, Bungay 01986 897130

All performances 7.30 pm except Laxfield (8pm). Tickets £12

P. J. Music

HARBOUR LIGHTS TRIO

WHAT WE DO
We are based in East Suffolk and provide relatively inexpensive, light-hearted concerts, folk club spots or after dinner entertainment.

TWO COATS COLDER

WHAT WE DO
Two Coats Colder are a fun loving bunch of musicians who will certainly entertain you with their own varied take on folk music, drawing from Traditional, Contemporary & Progressive Styles. Their shows, which always feature a good mix of self penned songs plus a few borrowed gems, never fail to get their audiences singing along.

TONY HALL

WHAT I DO
I sing varied songs, accompanying myself on Hohner melodeons and play a mixture of tunes. I have played at folk clubs and festivals all over the UK for the last forty-odd years.

TERENCE BLACKER

WHAT I DO
I write and sing songs about the way we live now, and play them on the guitar or ukulele. I have performed shows of songs and stories at venues from the Hay Festival to the Edinburgh Fringe, from from folk clubs to London’s Crazy Coqs cabaret bar.

SOUND TRADITION

WHAT WE DO
Sound Tradition is an a cappella folk foursome (David, Linda, Catherine and Moose) singing in glorious harmony, with occasional harmonium or percussion. Their varied repertoire ranges from lively chorus songs to lilting ballads, and from medieval times to the modern day, but always with an ear for the English folk tradition.

PROPER ENGLISH

WHAT WE DO
We are a singing trio and barn dance band performing traditional English songs and tunes in a lively and entertaining style.

PHIL LYONS

Philyons 21

WHAT I DO
I sing traditional and contemporary British folk songs. I am an experienced performer, having sung at many folk clubs and festivals in this country and France. I play Bartram and Lowden guitars.

I have a solo CD, Time and Tide, that was well received on release.

PAUL RILEY

WHAT I DO
I have played in folk clubs, festivals and pubs as a soloist and with various collaborators since the 1970s. I play a mix of instrumentals and self-penned songs, folk and near folk, folk-blues and non-folk if it takes my fancy! I play guitar and mandolin.
I have recorded a CD The Wanderer – mostly original material, which has been well-received.

PADDY BUTCHER

Paddy B

WHAT I DO
I sing traditional songs and some contemporary story songs with guitar, melodeon and unaccompanied. As a contrast, I play French folk dance tunes on hurdy gurdy and melodeon.
Current CD available. Open Ground consisting mainly of traditional songs and some tunes.

THE HOSEPIPE BAND

WHAT WE DO
The Hosepipe Band is usually a four-piece band playing for English ceilidhs / barn dances. We play for public events – festivals / public dances – and private events – weddings, parties etc.
Our repertoire combines traditional dance tunes from England, Ireland, Scotland and elsewhere with our own compositions.

NO STRINGS ATTACHED

No Strings Attached

WHAT WE DO
We are Anglo-French folk singers bringing our own lyrical style to (mostly) traditional songs from England, Brittany and beyond. We follow the oral tradition of learning and performing by ear, and the great majority of tunes have harmonies arranged by us. We have sung at venues large and small in Suffolk and Essex since 2010.

MEGAN WISDOM

Megan W WHAT I DO
Born and raised in Suffolk and currently based in Newcastle, I am a solo singer of traditional and contemporary folk songs.

About the ceilidh dances

The dances are mainly based on English folk dances and are danced as couples in lines, circles or squares. Lots of people come without partners and many of the dances are progressive, where people change partners.

There are links below to sites that provide in depth information about ceilidh dances but most of our dances are fairly simple and can be done with the movements described here. All the dances are called and start with a walk through to make sure that everyone understands the movements.

Basic guide!

The man usually has the lady on his right. The top of the set is the end nearest the band.
Longways sets face towards the band and may have 3 or more couples - the men stand in one row and the ladies in a row on the men's right
Square sets have 4 couples standing in a square and facing inwards - the couples facing the band and with their back to the band are head couples - the others are side couples

Back to Back or Do si do	Take 2 or 3 steps forward so that your right shoulder passes your partner’s right shoulder, take 2 steps to your right then 2 or 3 steps back so your left shoulder passes your partner’s left shoulder, back to your place
Balance	Stand/hop on left leg and kick the right leg across your body – repeat on right leg
Cast	The first person in the line turns away from their partner and walks towards the bottom of the set
Corner	In a square set this is the person on the lady's right and man's left
Dip and Dive	Holding your partner’s nearest hand, walk forward together going under the arch made by the first couple you come to and form an arch for the next couple to walk through
Grand Chain	Standing in a circle, face your partner and give them your right hand. Walk past them and give your left hand to the next person. Walk past them and give your right hand to the next person. Continue till you get back to your place.
Ladies Chain	The lady takes right hands with the opposite lady, moves forward past her and gives left hand to the man opposite. He will put his right arm behind the lady and rotate on the spot as she walks round him. The lady repeats the process with her own partner in order to return to her place
Reel of 3
Reel of 4	People 1 and 3 face down the set. 2 and 4 face them, then like Reel of 3
Right and Left through	Give your right hand to your partner and change places with them. Turn to your right and give your left hand to the person next to you and change places with them. Turn to your right and give your right hand to your partner. Turn to your right and give your left hand to the person next to you and change places with them so you are back in your place
Star	Place your right or left arm as directed at shoulder height into the middle of the circle. Join hands with the others and walk round in a circle usually back to your place
Strip the Willow	Take your partner’s right hand and turn them round until the lady faces the men’s line and the man faces the ladies line. Hold out your left hand to the first person in the line and turn them round .Meet your partner in the middle of the set, give them your right hand and turn them round. Give your left hand to the second person in the set and turn them round until you reach the bottom of the set or group
Swing	Take both your partner’s hands and turn round together
Turn	Give your partner your left, right or both hands as directed and turn them round

More information

Webfeet's Annotated Ceilidh
Elements of English Country Dance - lots of them!
The Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary is useful because it includes videos of the dances. Dances on the site that we do (not in kilts) include -
- Gay Gordons
- Cumberland Square
- TAG - this is worth watching because it is a notoriosly hard dance to call but actually quite easy to dance, once you have seen it done!
- Strip the Willow

Mardles Ceilidhs

Beatroot The Keel Band are playing in OctoberNorfolk Ceilidhs were being held at the John innes Centre until March 2020, when Covid 19 put a stop to them. We restarted on 08/10/2021, as Mardles Ceilidhs at the Costessey Centre, Longwater Lane, NR8 5AH. Many of the Mardles team helped make Norfolk Ceilidhs possible by playing, calling and organizing. All the dances are called so no experience is needed!

Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. in order to book tickets (£8/£6 for under 16s) in advance as numbers permitted in the hall are limited - you will be sent a confirmation email that includes the bank details to credit. If the tickets remaining (shown below) has gone negative then we are sold out and there is a waiting list.

Covid points to note, please -

Please only attend if you are completely well, please take a lateral flow test if you have any doubts
Please use hand sanitiser before each dance, please bring your own sanitiser.
The doors will be open, so bring something warm to wear in between dances

Other points -.

We will be starting dancing at 19:30 and finishing at 21:45 because we have to be out of the car park by 22:30
There is no bar at the hall but there is a kitchen with mugs, kettles and glasses. You are welcome to bring your own drinks, including tea and coffee but please wash up at the end!
- If you bring alcohol then there is a corkage fee of £1 per 500ml can which we will have to pay to the Whitwell Railway as they hold the drinks licence for the hall. There will be a tub for you to put your cash fee into or you can pay it in advance when you buy your tickets.

Date - all Friday at 19:30	Band	Caller
13/10/2023	The Keel Band	Ken May
10/11/2023	Far'n' Away	Birgitta Campbell-Johnston
08/12/2023	Beatroot	John Preston
12/01/2024
09/02/2024	Fairgreen Band	Chris Austin
15/03/2024
19/04/2024	The Hosepipe Band
10/05/2024	Hodmedod
11/10/2024
08/11/2024
06/12/2024	Beatroot

We publicise other dances on our Featured Events page.

Please follow our Facebook page or join the Google group mailing list to be kept informed.

There is a long history of public ceilidhs in Norwich - maybe you can fill in some dates for us! Please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. any info.

Labour party held dances
Reeldance Organization held dances at Keir Hardy Hall on St Gregory's Alley until 2014
Norfolk Ceilidhs at John Innes Centre from 2015 to 2020
Covid!
Mardles Ceilidhs at Costessey since Oct 2021