Profile: Matthew Mansour, jouster

Matthew Mansour is a jouster at the Georgia Renaissance Fair and similar events in Illinois and North Carolina. The 42-year old from LaGrange also makes leather costumes for horses.

How did you become interested in jousting?

I was, as a little kid, always interested in knights. And one day I met a fellow who actually jousted. He was an actor, and he jousted. I begged him and pleaded for years and years to go with him and he said no because I was 12.

When I turned 18, I went on the road and squired for him, and learned the performance trade from the ground up.

How historically accurate is the performance?

This jousting performance at the Renaissance Fair is quasi-historically accurate. We put a lot more theatrics into it. A full tournament could not be done in a half-hour show.

Do you have a performance name?

Sir Matthew, the Duke of Windsor. It used to be the Prince of Windsor but that was too hoity-toity so we changed it to Duke.

What are some differences and similarities between you and Sir Matthew?

Sir Matthew is much, much more impressive. Regular Matthew is just a kind of a laid-back guy. When I walk around here as Sir Matthew, there’s a lot of bravado and your chest is swelled, you’re swaggering around. You’re a knight, a fairly important person. And I’m not like that at all.