Cast

Synopsis

One life in the hands of 12 women.

A brilliant, at times humorous, tense history play, written by Lucy Kirkwood, looks at how women were treated in the 1700s and can be sentenced by a legal system that condemns a woman on a man’s word.

It is 1759. Sally Poppy, a very angry young woman, is sentenced to hang for a very brutal murder of a child. Sally did not, however, act alone. Her male lover, who was also involved in the killing, is immediately tried and hanged, but although she is likewise condemned to death she “pleads her belly”, meaning that she claims to be pregnant,

A jury of 12 matrons are given just a few hours to decide whether Sally is telling the truth, or simply trying to escape the noose.

Only midwife Lizzy Luke is prepared to defend Sally and tries to convince the women that Sally is indeed pregnant.

Directors Notes

I was delighted to be asked to direct this Yorkshire amateur premiere of The Welkin, which was first performed at the National Theatre in London. The Welkin is set in Yorkshire in 1759 and Sally Poppy has committed a horrendous crime with her lover: the murder of a child who was in her care. Her lover is hanged. Will Sally meet the same fate? Sally claims she is with child and in those times should not face the gallows but be shipped off to Australia. Twelve matrons from the village are tasked with finding out the truth in an hour! It is typical of Lucy Kirkwood that there are important underlying themes, not least, how most women were treated in those times.

The Welkin has been a pleasure and a challenge to work on for all of the team, both onstage and backstage. The Welkin is very much an actors’ play: there is humour, sadness, horror and even a little sex and violence. It has been great fun listening to the many discussions of the matrons talking about ’women’s things’, something I remember my grandparents only talking about in animated whispers.

The technical side has been a challenge, but I have been lucky working with a great team. The set design, the technical side, costumes, props and many more aspects have brought this production to life and the many cups of tea have got us through the rehearsals. There are always so many to thank, the unsung heroes, but without them the show just wouldn’t go on. Do look at the programme to find their names.

I hope you enjoy this gripping drama full of twists and turns, and we will have done our job well if it leaves you reflecting and feeling some emotion at the end.