Reynard the Fox

Imagine the scene... You are in a grand castle of the high middle ages. The Great Hall is packed with splendidly attired lords, ladies and their followers enjoying a night of feasting and entertainment. The lord of the castle has secured the services of a troupe of travelling jongleurs and, as the company takes its ease, the players enter the hall. From the masks they are wearing it is clear that they intend to present stories of Reynard, and everyone sits up, eager to enjoy another retelling of these classic - and hilarious - tales. Gaily painted backdrops are revealed of the forest kingdom of King Noble the Lion, lord of all the animals, and of a farmyard and of a church - the typical haunts of the wily Reynard. With a flourish the jongleurs announce that they will be presenting the trial of Reynard before the king... and the action begins!
Trouvère mix medieval music and drama in a vivid and lively retelling of the tales of Reynard the Fox. Taking on the roles of jongleurs - the multi-skilled entertainers of the middle ages - we transport the audience back 800 years... Using the 13th century Romance of Reynard as our source, we present the well-known story of The Fox and the Wolf in the Well, the less familiar but deeply comical tale of Primaut the Priest, and the story of the cockerel Chanticleer. Masks, slapstick and interaction, together with the authentic music of the period played on gittern, flutes, harp and English bagpipes, bring the stories and characters alive for a modern audience while remaining true to the medieval source.

As well as being enormous fun, these stories were used and interpreted in the middle ages as comment on their times. Nobles, clergy and peasants are all targeted, and the setting is realistic - if you ignore the talking animals! Twelth and thirteenth century audiences would have recognised characters and situations and understood specific details and references. In our presentation we stay true to this element of the stories with our own touches of the contemporary.

Reynard the Fox is a great choice for

Concerts - featuring music from 13th century France, Reynard is ideal for early music events

Festivals and heritage days - Reynard the Fox can be presented as interlinked set of three shows over the course of a day. Our period tent and colourful set makes a great backdrop!

Schools - a programme of workshops to accompany the show is also available.

Concerts, festivals and schools from £550 (not including expenses)

epic comedy from the middle ages

hilarious... beyond our expectations

- uniquely told -

 

If you would like to contact Trouvère Medieval Minstrels then email us

Tel no. 0772 0118406

Trouvère, 2 Silver Street, Hackforth, Bedale, North Yorkshire DL8 1NS