The Welkin

Writer
Lucy Kirkwood

Director
Gemma Brockis

Location
The Sainsbury Theatre

Dates
Thursday 7 April at 7:30pm
Saturday 9 April at 7:30pm
Monday 11 April at 2pm
Tuesday 12 April at 7:30pm*
Wednesday 13 April at 2pm

* This performance was a relaxed performance. Find out more.

The running time is approximately 2 hours 45 minutes, including an interval.

About the show

'Rural Suffolk, 1759. As the country waits for Halley's Comet, Sally Poppy is sentenced to hang for a heinous murder. When she claims to be pregnant, a jury of twelve matrons are taken from their housework to decide whether she's telling the truth, or simply trying to escape the noose.

With only midwife Lizzy Luke prepared to defend the girl, and a mob baying for blood outside, the matrons wrestle with their new authority, and the devil in their midst.'

By arrangement with Nick Hern Books.

About the writer, Lucy Kirkwood

Lucy Kirkwood is a British playwright and screenwriter whose plays include: Mosquitoes (National Theatre, 2017); The Children (Royal Court Theatre, 2016); Chimerica (Almeida Theatre & West End, 2013; winner of the 2014 Olivier Award for Best New Play, the 2013 Evening Standard Best Play Award, the 2014 Critics’ Circle Best New Play Award, and the Susan Smith Blackburn Award); NSFW (Royal Court, 2012); small hours (co-written with Ed Hime; Hampstead Theatre, 2011); Beauty and the Beast (with Katie Mitchell; National Theatre, 2010); Bloody Wimmin, as part of Women, Power and Politics (Tricycle Theatre, 2010); it felt empty when the heart went at first but it is alright now (Clean Break & Arcola Theatre, 2009; winner of the 2012 John Whiting Award); Hedda (Gate Theatre, London, 2008); and Tinderbox (Bush Theatre, 2008).

She won the inaugural Berlin Lee UK Playwrights Award in 2013.

About the director, Gemma Brockis

Gemma is a London-based director and performer. She is a founder member of SHUNT (2000-2014). She has created shows for the RSC (as writer/director) and for the National Theatre (with Shunt Collective). Her work with Silvia Mercuriali (as Berlin-Nevada) has toured internationally.

Content warnings

Contains scenes of a violent and distressing nature, including domestic abuse and miscarriage, descriptions of hanging and sexual assault, child death, and strong language.