A thrilling retelling of Suffolk’s real-life murder mystery…
Summer, 1827. In a red barn Maria Marten awaits her lover. A year later her body is found under the floor of the barn in a grain sack, barely identifiable, and the manhunt begins.
Maria’s story sent shock waves throughout the country. The Red Barn Murder (as it became known) was national news, inspiring writers and filmmakers down the ages. The sort of gruesome tale that had all the hallmarks of a classic crime drama – a missing body, a country location, a disreputable squire and a village stuck in its age-old traditions.
But in all this hysteria Maria’s own story gets lost. Until now. Hal Chambers and Beth Flintoff’s spine-tingling retelling rediscovers her story, bringing it back to vivid, urgent life.
Rich and transporting
THE STAGE
Well worth catching on its tour
Libby Purves THEATRE CAT
Superbly staged
BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE
One of the best theatre experiences of the year
EAST ANGLIAN DAILY TIMES
Tour Dates:
Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough: Tuesday 11th - Saturday 15th February
New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich: Thursday 20th - Saturday 22nd February
New Vic, Newcastle-under-Lyme: Wednesday 26th - Saturday 29th February (on sale soon)
The Ballad of Maria Marten originally toured in 2018 under the name Polstead to Ipswich, Semer, Peterborough and Debach.
