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Berkshire Bedlam Morris

 

 

Welcome to the Home Page of Berkshire Bedlam!

 

 

BB - still rated amongst the top 99% of all Morris sides in the country.....

 

Who are we ?

         

Berkshire Bedlam, renowned Cotswold Morris dancers from Wokingham in Berkshire, were formed in 1977, and perform a wide range of dances. While some are based on the legendary Leafield dances of Oxfordshire, the majority of today's repertoire is original compositions put together in recent years. Whatever the dance, BB's aim is to perform with gusto and spirit, and to present spectacular and original performances. Do we succeed? - come and see us to find out!
You can find out lots more about us through this site including something of our history, and a guide to the dances in our past and present repertoire. There are also various pictures of the side, latest news of events, and you can even find out what happens at a Berkshire Bedlam Bunfight ...... 

Latest news - Spring 2008

The 2008 dance season is almost upon is, and our full 2008 Dance Programme is now available - click here for details - meanwhile here is a look back at some of the highlights of 2007

** 2007 BUNFIGHT ** - Well, another highly successful BERKSHIRE BEDLAM BUNFIGHT CEILIDH came and went at the end of last year, this time with the theme of 'Heroes and Villains' - as usual some great outfits, with the boundaries of good taste being satisfyingly tested once again. Random were terrific as our band for the evening, Hugh Crabtree as caller was his immaculate sardonic self, and it was great to see so many old and new friends in attendance. Thanks to all those who came and enjoyed themselves, congratulations to all the losers at Irish Bingo, and thank you also to the Keystone Cops of BB who put in an appropriately incompetent appearance. We will be doing it all again this year so be there on 29th Nov 2008, tickets still available..... 


GERMAN TRIP - October 07
Last October the Big Caper once again hit the Continental road, to take part in a Festival in Ribnitz-Damgarten in the former East Germany. Its probably fair to say they don't get a lot of passing English Morris teams out there, but we had a great time anyway - read all about it in our latest news section or see the pictures


2007 summer events included our 30th Anniversary weekend 29th Jun - 1st July, when a great time was had by all, with scarcely a drop of rain (as you might expect) - followed by highly successful August appearances at Sidmouth and Towersey - read about them in our 2007 news reports or see a selection of pictures in the gallery section 

 
** EGGHEADS - "we wuz robbed" say BB **
In September 2007 BB were on Eggheads (a BBC2 quiz programme for those who don't know), and so nearly won thanks to the heroic efforts of Andy and Jameson - but in the end narrowly missed out on the £59,000 prize (a lifetime's supply of coconuts).
You can read about all our recent happenings in the latest news section, find out when we are coming to a town near you in our future event guide, see the gallery section for more pictures, or just wallow aimlessly in BB memorabilia throughout the site ...


Berkshire Bedlam Media News !!
BB on DVD - Berkshire Bedlam are one of the sides to feature in a series of morris DVDs put together by Steven Newland. Filmed during 2005, it features a variety of dances from the repertoire and a revealing interview. It's available to buy from the website 'Morris Dancers of England' - or click on the image for some preview footage! Read here a feature on the side from the 'Best of British' magazine (written by Yvonne Baker) Berkshire Bedlam have featured in a video made by Genius Productions for Reading based electro-funk band Saloon. Called 'The Good Life', the video features footage shot at the Banbury Canalside Festival and adapted to fit the dreamy techno track. Watch and listen to an extract here - The Good Life featuring Berkshire Bedlam (QuickTime format)

 

Contact Us / Join Us

We're always delighted to welcome new members, dancers and musicians. We practice on Thursday evenings at the Scout Hut in Evendons Lane, Wokingham, RG41 4DX (click here for map) and dance out at festivals, pubs and other events throughout the summer. If you would like to come to any of our practice evenings to try it for yourself, you will be very welcome any time, or come to one of our taster evenings in October. Phone or e-mail if you would like more details or would like to contact us about anything else as follows :
Main contact & Webmaster - Malcolm Major - Tel 0118 9771952 - e-mail malcolmmajor at ntlworld dot com
You can also contact the following :
Squire - Jerry West - jerry dot west at ntlworld dot com
Foreman - Tim Taylor - tj dot taylor at btinternet dot com
And finally, if
you would like to find out more about other Morris sides, or Morris dancing in general, try these links :
Mainly Morris Dancing : an invaluable source of general information and the best links to teams webpages
Morris Side Finder
: a UK wide guide to find teams in all parts of the country
Morrisdancing.org : Links to worldwide morris organisations and affiliated sides 
SEFAN : South East Folk Arts Network - what's going on in folk arts in the South East 

and remember .... ....it never rains on Berkshire Bedlam

 
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