Trial of ten-year-old girl in Barnstaple to be revisited in new play

The heart-breaking story of a ten-year-old girl caught stealing in Barnstaple’s Pannier Market in 1848 will be brought to life this month when a new play premiers at Barnstaple’s historic Guildhall.

‘False Witness’ is a courtroom drama based on the story of Mary Cutcliffe who was accused of theft and tried at the Guildhall's courtroom where she faced seven years hard labour and transportation to Australia if found guilty.

Local writer Tina Orr Munro came up with the idea of setting a courtroom drama in the Guildhall when she attended a wedding there.

"I grew up here and I’d never been inside the Guildhall. It’s a fantastic space. The courtroom has barely changed since it was built in 1830. I remember looking at the portraits of all the former Barnstaple dignitaries that hang on the walls and thinking I’d love to stage a play based on a trial here that some of those men might originally have witnessed."

Tina asked her friend former TV scriptwriter Tim Cooke to help co-research and write the play.

"As soon as we read Mary’s story, we knew we’d found our trial. We were both so moved by the idea of this terrified little girl standing in this packed courtroom pleading for her life. It’s a heart-breaking tale that we think audiences will really respond to," says Tim, who is also managing director of Sounds Sorted Media.

The writing duo say they have used a degree of artistic licence, such as changing Mary's surname and the date, to turn Mary’s story into a compelling drama for modern audiences.

"We have retained some of the elements of the original trial, but we also wanted to explore issues affecting many of the townspeople of Barnstaple in the mid-19th century. Mary’s story isn’t unique for the time. What is unusual is that she was so young to be facing such a harsh sentence,’ adds Tim who is also the play’s director.

The writing team are delighted that False Witness will premier as part of Barnstaple’s Fringe Theatrefest 2023.

Tina adds: "We were so thrilled to be accepted into the Theatrefest. It’s something Tim and I had hoped for when we set out to write ‘False Witness’ because the Theatrefest is firmly rooted in Barnstaple, and so is our play.

"Barnstaple has a rich and often untapped history. Mary is part of that history. What we have tried to do is give her a voice and bring her story to life.

"We have a brilliant cast of actors and we hope the people of Barnstaple will come and watch our play and take Mary to their hearts just as we have."

Tim added: "False Witness portrays a classical day in the life of the old Barnstaple courthouse. Before we get to Mary’s trial, we look in on a short hearing which sees five local men charged with drinking out of hours on the Sabbath. On the surface it’s a light-hearted look at the social mores of the day, and how justice was delivered, but it also reinforces the inequalities of the time, in a divided Victorian society."

Tina concluded: "We’re all really looking forward to it, and are extremely grateful to Barnstaple Safer Streets Community Sparks fund, North Devon Council, Barnstaple Town Council and the Guildhall for their brilliant support in helping to make this happen."

False Witness will be performed at Barnstaple’s Guildhall, Butcher’s Row, Barnstaple, as part of the Fringe Theatrefest 2023, this June 22, 23, 24. Tickets on sale here: www.theatrefest.co.uk