Brutal Bury St Edmunds witch trials to be brought to life in A Tryal of Witches at Theatre Royal
The brutal 1645 Bury St Edmunds witch trials, which saw 16 women hung in one day, is the inspiration for A Tryal of Witches, the Theatre Royal's in-house spring production.
Written by East Anglian playwright Tallulah Brown, the play follows the lives of Suffolk villagers as Matthew Hopkins, infamous Witchfinder General, stokes the flames of witchcraft and misinformation.
It’s 1645 in rural East Anglia and Matthew Hopkins is roaming from village to village in the stifling summer heat. He broadcasts his message detailing the prevalence of witches and the power of the devil, all while searching out the next ‘witches’ to be prosecuted.
As the bloody battles of the civil war draw ever closer, farmers’ crops fail and a man drops dead in the alehouse, the villagers need something to blame. Witches. But this is not a trial of witches, this is a trial of women.
The trial in Bury St Edmunds was the first time women were convicted using ‘spectral evidence’ – the belief that witches could be in two places at one time. A Tryal of Witches asks ‘What led to one of the most shocking witch trials in British history?’ and explores the lives of Suffolk villagers as the witch rumours ebb and flow around the county.
The recently announced professional cast includes Claire Storey, who plays Anne Alderman. Claire returns to the Theatre Royal after touring here previously with Northern Broadsides in Hard Times, The Grand Gesture, The Comedy of Errors and Sweet William.
Claire has appeared in numerous theatre productions around the country and in Call The Midwife, Hollyoaks, Coronation Street, Doctors, and Emmerdale on TV.
Actress, musician, writer and theatre maker Emily Hindle plays Rose and Matthew Hopkins. Like Claire, she has numerous theatre appearances under her belt and has appeared on TV in Miss Austen, Casualty, The Start Up, as well as composing music for shows.
Making her professional debut will be Shaniya Hira, playing Mary, John Stearne and Sir Matthew Hale. Shaniya has several stage credits, and her work also spans radio and voice acting.
Next up is Rachel Heaton, who grew up in Suffolk and has recently relocated back to the area, and she will play Sarah and Judge Godbold. Rachel played Miss Hardbroom in the The Worst Witch on a National Tour and in the West End, which won an Olivier Award. TV appearances include Doctors, Holby Blue, Rocket Man, In 2 Minds, All About Me and Brave New World.
Lucy Tuck, who plays Reverend John and Nathaniel, has had a varied career. Early work ranged from classic musicals, European touring, dance-theatre to the RSC’s Chronicles Of Narnia. Recent work includes a world tour of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
A Tryal of Witches is directed by the Theatre Royal’s artistic director Owen Calvert-Lyons and runs from March 7-22.
