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Witchfinder

Martin Paul Roche & Ian Crabtree

Genre: Drama

Cast size: 24

Duration: Two Act

Martin Paul Roche & Ian Crabtree | Musical | Drama | Principals : 5m, 3f, 1f junior Support : 8m, 2f, 1m/f + Chorus

Short synopsis

In 1612 Lancashire, James and Catherine both from different classes, backgrounds and worlds find themselves in a melting pot of politics and suspicion. In newly protestant London, the King, his court and his henchman (the Witchfinder), each with a different vested interest, take up against the innocent Catholic residents of Pendle who they suspect are witches. A powerful story with dominant characters and soaring themes, the musical traces the heart-rending events and their consequences, painting a picture that encompasses life and of loss, but equally tells of love and of hope.

  • Synopsis
  • Characters
  • Awards
  • Reviews
  • Music Player

It is 1612 and Jacobean England is still reeling from the Gunpowder Plot of several years earlier and the implications it has for the people and more importantly, the King; a king obsessed by demonology and fearful of those who do not practice the faith of the state.

Against this backdrop, Witchfinder introduces the story of two young lovers from different classes, backgrounds and worlds, thrust together in a melting pot of politics and suspicion, fuelled by fear and an over zealous desire to hunt down the evildoers - whether they exist or not.

Prejudice, power, love and honour all vie for supremacy in both the corridors of power in London and the simple village life of Pendle in Lancashire, as they are pitted against each other in a struggle for truth - and survival.

This is a not just another musical. With a cast of 20 characters plus company, it has a script that has the weight and gravitas of a pure drama but with soaring songs, beautifully orchestrated. Add to this an array of powerful and absorbing characters, tracing their place in history; real people, real lives ... but with tragic and heart rending consequences. It paints a picture of humanity which is just as resonant today, encompassing life and of loss but more importantly, love and hope.

Principals (5m, 3f adult, 1f junior)

  • James Roberts - 25/30. Army captain, strong, intense, good family, not upper class. High Baritone/Tenor
  • Catherine Howard - 25/35. Strong, independent and determined. Mezzo Soprano
  • Roger Nowell - a magistrate, desperate for power, influence and wealth. High Baritone
  • Thomas Potts - 30+, Clerk Of The Assizes, quiet, unassuming, studious. High Baritone
  • Edward Sykes - 25/35. James's lieutenant, loyal and unquestioning. Tenor/ High Baritone
  • Lady Sarah Owen - 20/35. daughter of (unnamed) nobility, engaged to James. Mezzo Soprano
  • Alizon Device - 20-30 an uncomplicated, shy and nervous young woman, a loner. Mezzo Soprano
  • Josiah Wickham - 40+, a man of wit and wisdom, Falstaffian, larger than life. Baritone
  • Jenet Device - 9, Alizon's sister, a quiet girl initially, but later on incriminates Catherine.

Support (8m, 2f, 1m/f)

  • King James - 46, Studious, well spoken, homosexual, but not camp. Non-singing role
  • Jane - 25-60. a composite character appearing in many scenes. Mezzo Soprano
  • Elizabeth - 25-60, a composite character appearing in many scenes. Mezzo Soprano
  • Abraham Law - 20's. a simple local man, attracted to Catherine, jealous of James. Light Baritone
  • Privy Council (x4) - 30+. Machiavellian, with bearing and authority Tenor x2, Baritone x2
  • Judges (x4) - 30+, presiding at the Witches trial (can double with Privy Council). Tenor x2, Baritone x2
  • Servant/Herald - (m/f) any age. Non-singing role
  • Priest/Monk - any age. Non-singing role
  • Gaoler - any age. Non-singing role
  • Male and Female company, who play a variety of roles - Soldiers, an Usher (m), Villagers, Prisoners & Courtiers etc. (The numbers involved are flexible but as a minimum, the supporting cast, such as the King and Privy Council should double up as company (i.e., soldiers/villagers) as could Lady Sarah, Elizabeth and Jane, Herald, Servant, Priest and Abraham. There will need to be at least several soldiers to create any sense of presence and to satisfy the vocal parts). A few children in the chorus would be appropriate.

Winner : Best Book & Lyrics, GMDF Festival 2009 (together with four other prizes)

The 2009 world premiere in Mossley won FIVE major regional theatre awards at the GMDF ...

  • Best Actor
  • Best Choreographer
  • Best Book & Lyrics
  • Best Director
  • Best Production
  • "... a genuine, full-blown show that is full-formed, with superb orchestrations ...""... ensembles that stir and ballads that thrill ..." - Oldham Evening Chronicle, July 2009
  • "Witchfinder left me with a buzz which, at the time of writing, is still with me." (Joyce Pomeroy, NODA, SW Region)

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Witchfinder

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Songs
  • 1) Prologue / Bring Her Down - Orchestra / Potts 
  • 2) Reborn In You - Alizon 
  • 3) Just Before You Go - Sarah & James 
  • 4) The Privy Council - Privy Councillors x 4 
  • 5) Never Will Mend - Nowell, Soldiers & Villagers 
  • 6) Hubble Bubble - Wickham & Villagers 
  • 7) A Man Like You - Catherine 
  • 8) Montage - Nowell, Abraham, Potts, Catherine, Alizon, James, Sykes & Chorus 
  • 9) England Is My Home - James, Sykes, Catherine & Chorus

~~ Interval ~~

  • 10) Noblesse Oblige - Chorus
  • 11) Just Before You Go - Sarah & James
  • 12) Remember Me - Potts
  • 13) Never Complete - James
  • 14) Each Passing Year - Sarah, Catherine & James
  • 15) So Pure - Sykes
  • 16) The Prayer - Male & Female Prisoners (with Priest)
  • 17) Bring Her Down (Reprise) - Usher & Chorus
  • 18) Witchfinder's Inquisition - Nowell
  • 19) The Trial - Jenet, Nowell, James, Judges & Chorus
  • 20) You've Seen It In Your Nightmares - Nowell
  • 21) On Borrowed Time - James & Catherine
  • 22) Epilogue / Sleep Tonight - James & Company
Information for Production Administrators

Here's a list of all the supporting material available and some other information you might need. Pricing for the production materials is supplied automatically with a Perusal Set. Royalty pricing can only be provided as a formal quotation.

Available now (see below)

  • Preview Script/Libretto

You can download straightaway a shortened copy of the script/libretto to read and get a relatively good picture of whether you would like to proceed to the next step. The Preview E-Script is made available to you as a pdf file sized for A4 paper and contains just over half of the script.libretto.

  • Perusal Set

These are available for customers in European Union countries only to borrow free of charge (but you have to pay the postage to return the set to us). The set contains ...

  • Printed Libretto
  • Printed Piano/Vocal Score
  • Cast Recording Audio CD (from premiere production)
  • Full Production Video DVD (of premiere production)

Available after Perusal - Libretti/Vocal Scores

  • Rehearsal Master Set on a Data CD (Cast).

This contains the script and piano vocal score for your cast and crew provided as A4 pdf files. No problem about possible loss of deposit, as they are yours to print out and mark up as required. The price includes a multiple copying licence allowing you to copy the Data CD itself (enabling you to give or sell copies to your cast for them to make up their own rehearsal books) or to make multiple prints of the pdf's on the Data CD for your production company to organise and provide to your cast or crew.

Please note that we do not sell individual printed copies of libretti, nor do we hire sets of printed rehearsal libretti or scores.

Available after Rights Obtained

  • Backing Tracks - Not available.
  • Orchestrations - These are available for a 12 piece orchestra as below, for hire to production companies only, who hold a valid, unexpired, licence to perform.(A 16 piece arrangement with a string section is also available).
  • Drum Kit
  • Electric Bass
  • Flute & Piccolo
  • Horn
  • Keyboard 1
  • Keyboard 2
  • Keyboard 3
  • Percussion
  • Alto Sax & Clarinet 1
  • Tenor Sax & Clarinet 2
  • Trombone
  • Trumpet
  • MD's Full Score

We have secured the rights to video productions of this title from the Author, and we manage them on his behalf. Once a 'Licence To Perform' has been granted, and then on payment of a fee, we will be able to issue a 'Licence To Record'. There are some strings attached to this, but these are far outweighed by the benefits.

  • Record one or more live performances and mix down to a single video
  • Give or sell copies to your cast and crew
  • Sell copies to your audiences (take advance bookings on the night)
Frequently asked questions

Can we try before we buy?

Of course! All our plays and pantomimes have a free Preview Script available for download as an A4 pdf file that contains 60-75% of the full script. If you like what you read in that then you can buy an inexpensive e-script of the entire play (generally costing under half the price of a traditional printed script) which is licensed to you for your personal use. Purchasing a script copying licence allows you to make a just sufficient quantity of copies to support rehearsals and performances.

All our musicals are included in our perusal service. Under this, representatives of producing organisations can request a USB Stick of Perusal Material  which comprise the script/libretto and piano/vocal score as pdf files; a Cast (or Studio) Recording as mp3 files and (where available) an mp4 file video of either the premiere production or of a subsequent production.

Some titles have the facility to read the entire script online on our website.

Do we need a Licence To Perform?

The simple answer is, yes.

Under the international laws of copyright, you must be in possession of a valid, unexpired, licence before performing any piece of theatre unless the owner or managers of the copyright has waived their rights. (See 'Copyright Questions' below).

Why do you insist on providing a formal royalties quotation?

When you request a quotation, it is logged in our system, it forms part of an orderly queue and protects your place in that queue should multiple licensing requests occur for the same show.

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