The Ballad of Maria Marten by Beth Flintoff
Thursdays to Saturdays, 7:30pm to 9:30pm Sundays, 5pm to 7pm Thursday 16 November 2023 to Friday 15 December 2023 Saturday 16 December 2023 from 2pm to 4pm
Australian premiere
“The battle between good and evil is full of grey areas… but I think he’s firmly on the devil’s side.”
The notorious ‘Red Barn Murder’ of 1827 has entered the annals of British folklore, the subject of prurient gossip and grim speculation.
A young woman, Maria Marten, goes to a barn in Suffolk to meet her lover, with a view to eloping. A year later, her body is found, hidden under the floor.
What was the truth behind her murder? Why was she killed, and who was responsible?
Rather than a literal retelling of this historic ‘true crime’, the play is a thrilling feminist reappraisal that focuses on Maria’s life, and celebrates the solidarity of female friendship through a joyous mix of story-telling, dance and laughter.
Her fate is explored through the eyes of Maria and the women who loved her, shedding light on a complex story of love, loss, prejudice and patriarchal power.
“Flintoff restores dignity to Maria… Unexpectedly joyous” The Guardian