The Murder of Maria Marten or The Red Barn
Written by Brian J. Burton
Directed by Mavis Dunphy
8 – 13 June 1970
The story is based on various anonymous Victorian texts. Maria Marten was born in Suffolk in 1801. There, she met William Corder by whom she had a child who died in infancy. In 1827, Corder murdered Maria and buried her body in the Red Barn. Because of his wife’s recurring dream, Thomas Marten searched the barn and discovered the body of his daughter. Corder was convicted of the crime and in 1828 executed at Bury Gaol. The fact that the production gets unsullied, hearty fun from these macabre ingredients is proof of the sureness of its energy that pushes aside any attempt to think seriously about the horrors.
Cast
William Corder – Peter Janes
Thomas Marten – Harry Dunphy
Tim Bobbin – John Marchant
Johnny Badger – John Farrell
Pharos Lee – Thomas Roberts
Maria Marten – Yvonne Hegarty
Mrs Marten – Margaret Baird
Anne Marten – Melba Rutherford
Meg Bobbin – Ainslie Pennell
Nell Hatfield – Kathy Clark
Petra Andrews – Diane Packham
Rosa Post – Janice Wood
Alice Rumble – Jennifer Button
Crew
Stage Manager – Alan Bowman
Assistant Stage Manager – Dot Hamlin
Lighting – John Robarts, David and Colin Lincoln
Properties – Christine Giles, Molly Pritchard, Marilyn Palmer
Wardrobe – Joan Robarts
Wigs – Nathanwigs
Set Construction – Guild Workshop
Show Gallery
