“It’s been a year since I died and still nobody has found me”
In the Red Barn, a dark secret lies buried, waiting to be discovered...
Rich and transporting...Beth Flintoff’s powerful historical drama tackles issues of domestic abuse with passion and sensitivity
THE STAGE
This has to be not only one of the best theatre experiences of the year but one of the best shows that Eastern Angles has ever staged.
EAST ANGLIAN DAILY TIMES
Well worth catching on its tour
LIBBY PURVES, THEATRECAT
This is a tale of a real place and time far more than just another one of violent death and retribution.
FOUR COUNTIES THEATRE
A superbly staged and performed version of a well loved Suffolk story
BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE
An amazing piece of theatre that carries you along with twist and turns a plenty...With a clever set design, fabulous lighting and music and brilliant costumes, this is one piece of theatre that will really move you.
IPSWICH24 MAGAZINE
Eastern Angles at their best - an old story with contemporary resonance, narrative and music rooted in the region but universally powerful. Beth Flintoff's marvellous piece, brought thrillingly to life by six young women, reclaims Maria Marten's legend from the myth and the melodrama.
MICHAEL GRAY
In 1820s Suffolk, Polstead is a quiet village stuck in its age-old traditions and ancient class system. Rich and poor, man and woman, everyone knows their place. Life revolves around the seasons and the timeless cycle of marriages, births and deaths, where the annual Cherry Fair is the only excitement, and the threat of starvation never far away. The villagers plod stoically on, through bitter winters and sweet brief summers.
But Maria and her friends want to be different: they yearn for thrills and experimentation. When luck, and her fierce determination to better herself, throws Maria into the arms of a wealthy landowner, it seems that her dreams will come true…
With this new take on a classic story, Eastern Angles re-examines the life of Maria Marten and the events that led up to her murder.
The dark local tale will be dramatically staged by Hal Chambers (The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart; Ragnarök) with an all-female cast and will tour to a mix of locations from Ipswich Waterfront to Semer Barn near Polstead itself.
Locations
Polstead will be touring to four quirky locations from 11th July - 5th August...
Ipswich Waterfront at the James Hehir Plaza by Cult Cafe, 11th - 15th July
The Undercroft at Serpentine Green - our pop up theatre in Peterborough, 18th - 21st July
A real tithe barn at Semer, Manor Farm Barn - near the village of Polstead, 26th - 28th July
Debach Airfield, Woodbridge - have a picnic & enjoy the countryside surroundings, 31st July - 5th Aug
How to get to Debach: Travelling East along the B1078, from Clopton to Wickham Market, Debach Airfield is on the right, just after Drabb’s Lane. There are signs leading up to the site and there is a free car park on the field by the theatre marquee.
How to get to Semer: Hadleigh to Bildeston on the B1115, past Semer Village Hall on your right, down a steep hill, over a bridge, 200m on the left hand side a gravel drive to Manor Farm Barn, Semer.
*To all our customers heading to our performances of POLSTEAD in Semer Barn. Please be aware there are temporary traffic lights and roadworks on the A1141 on the route from Ipswich. At the road closure turn left, then take first right signed Bildeston, (narrow road with passing places) follow till a crossroads, turn right onto A1141, then left onto B1115, then follow instructions as per the leaflet.
There is also temporary traffic lights in the Village of Kersey. Please add extra time to your journey.*
Parking and location for Ipswich Waterfront: There are Pay and Display car parks surrounding the James Hehir Plaza and Ipswich Waterfront area. The show will take place in a marquee on the Plaza which is next to Cult Café.
Parking and location of The Undercroft: Serpentine Green Shopping Centre has free car parking. The Undercroft is located inside the shopping centre, towards the Food Court and down the escalators on the left-hand side.
Please note that the bars at Peterborough, Semer and Debach are cash only.
Our BSL performance will be on Sunday 15th July at Ipswich Waterfront. For more information, please contact Box Office on 01473 211498. An induction loop for the hearing impaired is available on request by calling the same number.
All venues have wheelchair access. If you have any further queries regarding accessible needs, please contact 01473 211498.
