This past summer, we staged the epic. This fall, we uncover a hidden gem. Following the grand spectacle of York Plays 2025, Poculi Ludique Societas (PLS), with the Jackman Humanities Institute (JHI) and the Centre for Renaissance and Reformation Studies (CRRS), invites you to discover the wit and intimacy of a rarely-seen medieval Welsh morality play.

THE STRONG MAN
(and SOUL AND BODY)

*In a new translation from the 15th/16th-century Welsh by Morgan Moore*

Meet the original “strong man”: a campy, charismatic tyrant obsessed with wealth, status, and his own legend. This morality play, with a fresh new translation, offers a startlingly prescient satire of materialism and power, holding a mirror to our own age of tech titans and celebrity oligarchs before delivering a classic, amusingly unexpected medieval twist.

A Lively Medieval Experience: Music & Puppetry

True to the medieval tradition of total performance, this production is richly layered with:

• Live Music: Music is central to the production, with tunes sourced from the Ap Huw manuscript, arranged by Peter Greenhill, and new music in medieval style arranged by Andrew Albin.
• Puppetry: In the full Toronto run, the production will incorporate puppetry to dramatize its moral and theological conflicts.

For the serious scholar, the performances offer a chance to experience a vital piece of Celtic dramatic heritage. For the curious, the play is a strikingly accessible and amusing window into the medieval world.

Performance Details:

We open at the Oxford Renaissance Festival with multiple performances of a 30-minute version of The Strong Man on Saturday, September 27th and Sunday, September 28th.

Then, we bring the full production to Toronto for a FREE, unticketed, and open-to-the-public run:

IN TORONTO: The Strong Man/Soul and Body (approx. 50-60 mins)

• Tues, Sept 30, 7:30 PM – Social Capital Theatre
• Thurs, Oct 2, 8:00 PM – Jackman Humanities Building (followed by a scholarly Q&A/short talk by translator Morgan Moore)
• Fri, Oct 3, 8:00 PM – Jackman Humanities Building (followed by a Q&A/short talk)
• Sat, Oct 4, 2:00 PM – Streamed Live on Zoom (see website for details)
• Sat, Oct 4, 7:30 PM – Victoria College’s Alumni Hall (followed by a Q&A/short talk)
• Wed, Oct 8, 7:30 PM – Social Capital Theatre (followed by a Q&A/short talk)

This production embraces the medieval tradition of portable drama, adapting uniquely to each venue. Expect a visibly different show every time, from a fairground to a university hall.

Featuring:
Lochlan Moorlag, Morgan Moore, Deval Soni, and Tallulah Valliere-Paul

Directed by Matt Sergi | Translated by Morgan Moore
Medieval Welsh music arranged by Peter Greenhill | Costumes by Linda Phillips

For more details and to sign up for the Zoom performance visit: premodernity.net/strong