In July 2016 we were commissioned by Norfolk Museum Services to produce a family-friendly production of medieval mystery plays, to be presented in Norwich Castle Keep. Director Peter Beck brought together records of the only remaining mystery play pertaining to Norwich, The Norwich Grocer's Play - Fall of Man, along with translations of the N-Town Plays, believed to belong to East Anglia.
We are indebted to local councillor George Nobbs for the original idea for this production, along with Steve Miller, Head of Norfolk Museums and Colly Mudie, Head of Norwich Museum Learning Team.
We are indebted to local councillor George Nobbs for the original idea for this production, along with Steve Miller, Head of Norfolk Museums and Colly Mudie, Head of Norwich Museum Learning Team.
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The production was supported by
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Illustration by Beverley Gene Coraldean Design by Leanne Butterworth
The order the plays were performed in -
The Creation of Heaven Helle Carte - Fall of the Rebel Angels (Fall to Hell) Paradyse - Fall of Man (Adam and Eve) Abelle and Cayne (Cain and Abel) Noise Ship (Noah's Ark) This is also the order that the plays appear in the transcribed Norwich Grocer's Book of Accounts, although it is suspected that the Helle Carte play was wrongly written down in the document as the third play in the pageant. The stanzaic form of the plays were varied, although rhyme royal stanza did appear in places. Additionally we adapted them to make them more accessible. |
The Norwich Grocer’s Play
No original manuscript of the Norwich Grocer’s Play has survived, however two versions of the text have been preserved in an eighteenth-century publication of the Norwich Grocer’s Book by Robert Fitch, taken from papers of John Kirkpatrick, another antiquarian of the same period. The book is a collection of important documents and accounts belonging to the Grocer’s guild during the sixteenth century. They show that performances were given in 1534, and then on a number of occasions each year up to and including 1565. The first text is pre-reformation and smaller in form, the second post-reformation, larger in form and includes two alternative prologues. A list of actors survives in the Grocer’s Book of an all-male cast (include Frances Fygot playing Eve) and various inventories of props. These include a “Rybbe Colleryd Redd”, used as the rib of Adam from which Eve is created, and various wigs, gloves, masks and costumes. The final entry in the book contains a description about the sad demise of a two-level “Howse of Waynskott”, a pageant cart that had been left outside and therefore in 1570 was scrapped. It also mentions food and drink for the actors! John Kirkpatrick’s papers can be viewed at the Norfolk Archive Centre and a copy of Robert Fitch’s publication can be seen at the University of East Anglia library.
No original manuscript of the Norwich Grocer’s Play has survived, however two versions of the text have been preserved in an eighteenth-century publication of the Norwich Grocer’s Book by Robert Fitch, taken from papers of John Kirkpatrick, another antiquarian of the same period. The book is a collection of important documents and accounts belonging to the Grocer’s guild during the sixteenth century. They show that performances were given in 1534, and then on a number of occasions each year up to and including 1565. The first text is pre-reformation and smaller in form, the second post-reformation, larger in form and includes two alternative prologues. A list of actors survives in the Grocer’s Book of an all-male cast (include Frances Fygot playing Eve) and various inventories of props. These include a “Rybbe Colleryd Redd”, used as the rib of Adam from which Eve is created, and various wigs, gloves, masks and costumes. The final entry in the book contains a description about the sad demise of a two-level “Howse of Waynskott”, a pageant cart that had been left outside and therefore in 1570 was scrapped. It also mentions food and drink for the actors! John Kirkpatrick’s papers can be viewed at the Norfolk Archive Centre and a copy of Robert Fitch’s publication can be seen at the University of East Anglia library.
Photography by Richard Jarmy and Mark Ivan Benfield
Actors Helen Vine, Mark Hayden and Roseanna Frascona with Director Peter Beck and Museum Learning Manager Colly Mudie
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Actors Helen Vine, Mark Hayden and Roseanna Frascona at Norwich Castle
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Actors and Director with Technical Manager Mark Ivan Benfield and Marketing and Publicity Manager Helen Vinsen
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Three professional actors were auditioned and engaged for the production -
Helen Vine
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Mark Hayden
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Roseanna Frascona
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Three local performers took part in the production, Hollie Harrington, Katherine Evans and Jen Alexander
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The piece was directed and adapted by Peter Beck, with an original soundtrack was written by composer Chris Ellis. Lucia Thompson, Peter Beck, Karen Davies, Katy Lavington Woods and Andrew Stevenson created scenic elements and props. Mark Benfield was Technical Manager. Helen Vinsen was Marketing and Publicity Manager. Richard Jarmy and Mark Benfield created projected images and provided photography.
Peter Beck
Richard Jarmy
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Chris Ellis
Helen Vinsen
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Lucia Thompson
Katy Lavington Woods
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Karen Davies
Mark Ivan Benfield
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Andrew Stevenson
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We are please to say that the production sold out and we received very positive feedback from audiences, including being a finalist for the Norfolk Arts Awards People's Choice Award. |
Local Press
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