WITCHFINDER - THE MUSICAL The 2009 world premiere of Witchfinder in Manchester won FIVE major regional theatre awards (GMDF) ... Best Actor Best Choreographer Best Book & Lyrics Best Director Best Production Synopsis It is 1612 in Lancashire, England. A group of simple village people from Pendle are preparing for Easter and the opportunity of celebrating their Catholic faith, albeit concealed and practised in fear. At this time, a local pedlar has been cursed by one of the villagers (Alizon) and he has fallen down ill, stricken it would appear, by her. He accuses her of being a witch and in this simple act an unstoppable chain of events begins. Her only true friend (Catherine) defends her to the other villagers, convincing Alizon and the others that no one will ever know or care what has happened in Pendle; moreover, that far from being an outcast, she is loved. Meanwhile in London – a world and social class apart – a young army Captain (James) is planning his forthcoming marriage to his fiancée, Lady Sarah. In their halcyon existence, they know nothing of poverty, politics or power games, but news of the ‘lawless and malevolent’ folk of Lancashire has reached the King and moreover, his power hungry Privy Council. The King engages the services of Roger Nowell, a Magistrate from Lancashire and Thomas Potts, Clerk of the Assizes to investigate the claims, instructing Potts to make a record of their findings. He also sends with them a contingent of soldiers commanded by James and his Lieutenant, Edward Sykes. The King, influenced by his Privy Council, see the events in Lancashire as an opportunity for the him to stamp his political and religious power on Lancashire whilst at the same time, increasing the power and standing of his courtiers. On arriving in Pendle, Nowell is immediately in conflict with the locals, led by Catherine. They are suspicious of the investigation and both James and Sykes attempt to appease them stating that their role is to keep the peace – and seek the truth. Catherine is not convinced and neither are the villagers, apart from the local innkeeper (Wickham) who sees James’ honesty and compassion. Nowell begins his investigations and Potts is shocked to find that his account is being used to paint a picture of the locals that is being twisted to suit Nowell’s version of events, a version Nowell hopes will ingratiate him with the King. The presence of James and the soldiers comes to a head at Wickham’s Inn. He defuses the situation and the rumour of there being ‘evil doings’, by dressing up as a witch to lighten the spirits of everybody; amidst the laughter, James and Catherine find that far from being on opposite sides, they are ‘...kindred spirits in these dark times’. As the investigations ensue, both James and Sykes realise they have been drawn towards the honesty and innocence of Catherine and Alizon and it is not long before they side with the locals ... which brings them into direct conflict with Nowell. All the parties consider the journey they have now begun concluding ‘I have
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