St. Bridget's Hearth is both the name of the Peasants Guild and the name of our encampment. It was common in many villages to have a central "oven" that was used by all for the baking of bread, and this is the pretext we use for the gathering of a rather eclectic group of people. Shepherds, weavers, sloths, housewives, fieldworkers, farmers, street sellers, all are welcome to gather at our hearth for rest and merriment!

Since we are a peasant's guild and wear the simplest garb of all the guilds, I have emphasized that we are willing to place our encampment on a less "desirable" area. Be prepared for heat, dust, blazing sun, or rain. What do we care? We've dodged the weary backbreaking labor of our everyday lives for the sake of the Faire that has come to our village, and such minor discomforts do not bother us. Indeed, we will barely notice them as we go about our games, gigs, revels and scandalous behavior. That being said, please be prepared for all eventualities.

Though we may not be connected by actual family ties, each of our guild members must be connected to all other members in some way. The weaver will have bought his wool from the sheep farmer, and is married to the flower girl, who is the sister of the barley farmer, etc. Planning out these tangled relationships will take a bit of effort but will pay off handsomely for our guild and for our ability to portray a believable village. You are encouraged to get to know your fellow peasants both at the regular classes and through our newsgroup. I will keep a "master" list and "master" book of the characters, relationships and gigs, so let me know if you have decided your role or if you need help.

All members of the peasant guild will participate in individual gigs and in group activities. Parades, weddings, the jousts, and games are part of the group activities. "Street gigs" are looser, and very much an individual activity, as they will relate directly to your character. A shy beet farmer will not have the same approach to a group of visitors as a randy shepherd, but it does not follow that one is better than another. Our guests are delighted to interact with our villagers in many ways, and each actor will make his character both believable to himself and the patrons. Therefore, it's not manditory to have a "bigger than life" kind of approach to your character. Do what is most comfortable for you, and it will reflect in an honest and believable portrayal for our guests.

Some practical advice for now... Read aloud your Shakespeare, Marlowe, etc. Lock yourself in the bathroom if you must for privacy, but do this often. Daily, if possible. Shakespeare's sonnets are the easiest and most understandable of all his works, and are great for practicing the accents, cadence and language. Not to mention, little snippets of these works are marvelous starters for conversations and gigs! "Fear no more the heat of the sun, my lady, for over yon hill lies our pub!" That sort of thing.

Looking forward to faire days ahead, your Peasant Guild Mistress, Sophie d'Augusta