Fools and Beasts have separate and certainly older origins than the Cotswold Morris they are more often associated with today. The medieval Feast of Fools celebrated the fools’ status and tournaments and pageants of the time featured hobby or tourney horses as well as mythical beasts and they were thought ancient then! Not every side is blessed with these carefree characters, but many are fortunate enough to have provided a home for both and some exceptionally lucky sides have more than one of each.
The Fool
The Fool is an integral part of any side performing dances from the South Midlands. The Fool provides a link between the dancers and the audience: he will entertain and provoke. However, historically he would have been the best dancer in the side and would on occasions be asked to demonstrate his skill by performing a solo jig. There is no specific costume for a Fool; each dresses as he wishes. Often the Fool will carry a short stick with a pigs-bladder attached by a piece of string. This performs a very important function should any man not be putting enough effort into his dancing, or if they do something wrong, it is the Fool's job to encourage them to do better. What better way than to whack the offender's head or bottom with a bladder!
That, of course, is the great secret of the successful fool – that he is no fool at all.'
- Isaac Asimov, Guide to Shakespeare.
The Beast
Alongside the Fool, there may be a mythical and mysterious Beast! Traditionally, this would have been a Hobbyhorse, but now it is just as likely to be a Dragon or a Unicorn. Be assured all morris Beasts are friendly and just love doing what Beasts do best: tormenting and teasing the audience, especially children. Additionally, they like sunbathing, riding bicycles, drinking beer, and eating - eating money of course … coins of the realm. Phil Underwood compiled an archive of Morris Ring Animals some time ago which is well worth a visit Morris Ring Animal Archive
And with his permission, I re-edited a marvellous booklet by the wonderful late Ron Shuttleworth on Constructing a Hobby Animal. Another of his great legacies.
The Illustrious Order of Fools and Beasts
Members of the Morris Ring, the Morris Federation and the Open Morris, the Order has been in existence in various guises since 1980 to encourage excellence in these ancient arts and provide a forum to develop the characters' skills. The first Scrivener, the late, great Eric Pressley, fool to Wath-upon-Dearne Morris, recorded its origins <Origin of The United Fools>.
Membership of the Order is open to all those individuals who regularly appear (or have appeared) in public in the Guise of a Fool or Beasts.
It is normally only awarded to persons who are associated with Morris Dancing in its many forms.
However, those who have such roles in regional festivals, certain types of folk plays, or other forms of UK Folklore, may be deemed eligible. See the <membership criteria>
There is even an <Unconstitution> created in 2008 (though it is currently being updated).
There is no “right way” to Fool, and the Union does not set out to promote a particular style or approach. There are several “wrong ways” to Fool - anything which causes genuine offence to the audience, or other dancers - and we do try to help new Fools avoid the basic mistakes. Alan Cocker gave a excellent presentation on dealing with our modern audiences at the 2025 Unconvention. You may find his notes useful <Etiquette and Our Modern Audience>.
We have accumulated Unconvention Workshop notes over the years written by the ultimate Fool, Mike Wilkinson of Dolphin Morris, which any aspiring Fool or Beast should find of interest <Mike Wilkinson's Fools & Beasts Workshop Notes>.
There is an active Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FoolsAndBeasts featuring Fools & Beasts activities from various social media sources and load of excellent photos of their frolics.
Convener & Scrivener is Robert Chisman, who can be contacted by email: triggertrotter [at] aol.com (Rob Chisman).
The Annual Unconvention
The annual meeting of the Illustrious Order takes place in different venues usually about the end of October (see our Events Diary). The weekend usually consists of a fully catered weekend, including accommodation, practicing our art whilst dancing out on the Saturday with the host side, a feast (where new members are welcomed and "Certified". The Sunday is more relaxed with the AGM receiving officers reports and appointing officers for the coming year (<The Officers elected 2025>).
