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1976

Light Shining in Buckinghamshire

Written by Caryl Churchill

Play Details

Context

Artistic Director 
Robert Kidd & Nicholas Wright

Co-production with Joint Stock Theatre Company

Dates Performed

Monday 27th September 1976
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs

Play Details

Synopsis

England, mid-17th century (during and after the English Civil War)

The play focuses on various characters including soldiers, preachers, and common folk as they grapple with the radical ideas of the time. It explores the rise of the Levellers, a political movement advocating for extended suffrage, religious tolerance, and equality before the law. The narrative jumps between different scenes and historical events, including the Putney Debates and the suppression of the Diggers movement, showing the hopes, struggles, and ultimate disappointments of those seeking radical change in society.

The play’s themes revolve around political revolution, religious radicalism, and the clash between idealism and reality. Churchill’s style is characterised by its use of authentic period language, overlapping dialogue, and a fluid approach to time and space. The play’s form challenges traditional narrative structures, inviting the audience to piece together the broader historical context from fragmented scenes and monologues. This innovative approach mirrors the fractured and chaotic nature of the period it depicts.

Director(s)

Max Stafford-Clark

Content includes

Contains discussions of violence, religious persecution, and infanticide

Cast & Creative

Cast

Jane Chappell

Cast

Linda Goddard

Cast

Robert Hamiliton

Cast

Will Knightley

Cast

Colin McCormack

Cast

Nigel Terry

Designer

Sue Plummer