A Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch production
The Witchfinder’s Sister
by Beth Underdown
Adapted for the stage by Vickie Donoghue
The world premiere of a chilling and creepy tale of Essex witch hunts
Essex, 1645. Blood runs cold with dread.
After the tragic death of her husband, Alice Hopkins heads to Manningtree, the small town she grew up in, home to her brother, and childhood secrets…
But there’s a new darkness in town, as rumours of witchcraft abound. Alice discovers her brother much changed, as a reign of hysterical terror spreads.
Alice begins a desperate race to reveal what’s compelling the obsessively cruel Witchfinder General, before more innocent women are found guilty…
This spellbinding and haunting historical thriller by Beth Underdown was a Richard and Judy Book Club pick, and is adapted for the stage by award nominated playwright Vickie Donoghue.
Part of Essex on Stage, following the recent successes of David Eldridge’s In Basildon, Sadie Hasler’s Stiletto Beach, Luke Norris’ So Here We Are, and this summer’s premiere of Douglas Rintoul’s new musical Love Letters.
Age guidance: 14+
★★★★ ‘A disquieting show that shines a light on a truly terrifying period in history – a story that feels startlingly relevant today’ Mind the Blog
‘Will have you gripped and seated on the edge of your seat until the very end of the performance’ Havering Daily
‘A lot to admire about this production…powerful’ Spy in the Stalls
‘I very much enjoyed the scares in The Witchfinder’s Sister…an atmospheric, emotionally charged production’ London Horror Society
‘Fancy a bit of atmospheric theatre, you’ll certainly get some shivers there this Halloween season’ Everything Theatre
‘Impressive’ London Theatre 1
‘I would certainly recommend going to see it this Halloween. There are lots of chilling moments that will leave you holding your breath’ Hornchurch Life
‘Director Jonnie Riordan has worked with beauty and precision to bring this historical and chilling drama to life’ In Your Area
Content information
Whilst we don’t want to give away any spoilers, we feel a duty to inform audiences of any material that could potentially cause distress to specific audience members. If you’d like to see the content notes for this show, please click here. If you’d like to speak to a member of the Box Office team for more information, please call us on 01708 443333 or email boxoffice@queens-theatre.co.uk
Essex on Stage has been made possible by the generous support of The Clothworkers’ Foundation. Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is the recipient of the 2018 Clothworkers’ Theatre Award, a competitive annual prize given to a regional producing theatre, that has only ever been awarded five times.
Performances for this production will be sold as a mixture of full capacity and social distancing – see below to choose which you’d prefer.
DAY | DATE | TIME | SHOW | SEATING |
Thursday | 7 | 7.30pm | Preview 1 | Socially Distanced |
Friday | 8 | 7.30pm | Preview 2 | Full capacity |
Saturday | 9 | 7.30pm | Opening Night | Full capacity |
Monday | 11 | 7.30pm | Socially Distanced | |
Tuesday | 12 | 7.30pm | Full capacity | |
Wednesday | 13 | 7.30pm | Socially Distanced | |
Thursday | 14 | 2.30pm | Full capacity | |
Thursday | 14 | 7.30pm | Full capacity | |
Friday | 15 | 7.30pm | Socially Distanced | |
Saturday | 16 | 2.30pm | Live Audio Description | Socially Distanced |
Saturday | 16 | 7.30pm | Socially Distanced | |
Monday | 18 | 7.30pm | Full capacity | |
Tuesday | 19 | 7.30pm | Socially Distanced | |
Wednesday | 20 | 7.30pm | Full capacity | |
Thursday | 21 | 2.30pm | Socially Distanced | |
Thursday | 21 | 7.30pm | Socially Distanced | |
Friday | 22 | 7.30pm | Full capacity | |
Saturday | 23 | 2.30pm | Full capacity | |
Saturday | 23 | 7.30pm | Socially Distanced | |
Monday | 25 | 7.30pm | Socially Distanced | |
Tuesday | 26 | 7.30pm | Full capacity | |
Wednesday | 27 | 7.30pm | Socially Distanced | |
Thursday | 28 | 2.30pm | Full capacity | |
Thursday | 28 | 7.30pm | Full capacity | |
Friday | 29 | 7.30pm | Socially Distanced | |
Saturday | 30 | 2.30pm | Socially Distanced | |
Saturday | 30 | 7.30pm | Full capacity |
7 - 30 October 2021
Various times
£12.50* - £29*
Under 26s £8
*plus 65p QRenew Fee
140 minutes
20 minutes
Audio Description
A pre-recorded Audio Description is available at all
performances from 11 Oct. There will be a live Audio
Description on Sat 16 Oct | 2.30pm
Main House
Debra Baker
Bridget
Miracle Chance
Grace
George Kemp
Matthew
Lily Knight
Alice
Jamie-Rose Monk
Mary
Anne Odeke
Rebecca
Directed by | Jonnie Riordan |
Design by | Libby Watson |
Lighting Design by | Matt Haskins |
Sound Design by | Owen Crouch |
Executive Producer | Mathew Russell |