TICKETS for CODS Easter Production of Witchfinder go on sale on Monday, February 19.

Our headline has taken a small liberty with the Lennon/McCartney 1965 No 1 hit song title, because coming to see Witchfinder will indeed be a “ticket to ride”.

This historical story and the glorious music within it, will ride all your emotions. Indeed all the human emotions are there, good and bad.

Witchfinder is a story of treachery and betrayal, prejudice and power. It is also a story of love, truth and hope, and there’s some humour thrown in for good measure.

Set in 1612, it is just seven years after the Gunpowder plot, James I is on the throne. He and his Privy Council are governing a country that has many problems. The relatively recently established protestant religion still fears the Catholic faith, and suppression of that faith is the order of the day.

Thrown into this mix is the power of superstition, and the many factions trying to gain favour with the King. It is against this background that the Witchfinder story is set.

James I is obsessed by demonology, he even wrote a book about it. He is also fearful of those who do not practice the Protestant faith.

In the North of England there is trouble, a magistrate by the name of Roger Nowell requests help from the King to investigate accusations of witchcraft and covert religious worship in the village of Pendle in Lancashire.

The King sends his men under the leadership of James Roberts, a young captain in the army. He is accompanied by his friend, a Lieutenant by the name of Edward Sykes.

Heading to Pendle in Lancashire, James leaves behind his fiancée, Lady Sarah Owen, not realising that this no routine journey. Its consequences will change his life for ever.

As was mentioned in our last article, you could almost call Witchfinder a “new” show. In fact it was first produced in 2009 and various companies have staged it since.

It hasn’t featured in the West End or Broadway and hasn’t even been on tour. But make no mistake, this is a gem. The story is strong and captivating, and the music is magical.

Even in the current early stages of rehearsal beautiful songs bring a tear to the eye, and moving choruses make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. Definitely a mascara warning, and it might be advisable to have a pack of tissues handy!

This is the first production of the show in our area and word has reached the ear of the National President of the National Operatic and Dramatic Society (NODA).

It appears Witchfinder is his very favourite show, so much so that he is making time in his busy schedule, and has already booked his ticket to come and see it.

More of our production in further issues of the Courier, but can we ask readers to get involved in imagining this story, even at this early stage?

Can we ask you to seek out one of the posters that advertises the show in the High Street. You’ll pick them out, white art work on a black background, with some touches of red.

Just stand in front of the poster and look at the figure in the foreground. Depicted standing there in chains, she was a real person, a lady of some means by the name of Alice. There is no record of her age, but it is thought she was about 20.

Four hundred years ago on August 20, 1612 she was hung along with six other women and two men. Alice lived in the village of Roughlee near Pendle, and a statue in her memory was unveiled there in 2012, 400 years after her execution.

Her crime? Well she was alleged to have attended a coven, or was it in fact a covert religious gathering? According to the records Alice kept silent throughout her two-day trial, apart from her plea of not guilty.

She was convicted and executed on the word of a nine-year-old child. The background depicts Lancaster Castle where the trials took place.

So can we ask you to just stand in front of a poster for just a few moments and remember Alice, and imagine what might have actually happened.

Alice’s own story is not the main subject of Witchfinder, though she is in there. But hopefully reading this will whet your appetite to see and hear the story as CODS present it to our audiences, and to hear and enjoy that wonderful music.

So, from February 19 you can buy your “tickets to ride” for this emotional roller coaster of a show. You may never have heard of it, but we promise you Witchfinder will not disappoint. The story will enthral and the music will haunt you on your way home.

More of the story to come in the Crediton Courier on March 2.

Witchfinder is performed by CODS from April 9 to 14 at 7.30pm at QE Lower School (Barnfield campus). Tickets are available from Olivia James, High Street, Crediton (01363 777968) or go online to: www.codsonline.com and click our Box Office button.

STOP PRESS!

CODS is holding a singing and acting workshop on Monday, February 19 from 6.30pm to 7.15pm at the Old Town Hall (entrance in Searle Street) to cast our youth chorus (ages nine to 16) to join the adults for Witchfinder.

We are also on the hunt for a girl to play the part of Jenet Device, younger sister (approximately 10-years-old) to one of the accused witches of Pendle. This part involves a solo song.

If your child would like to join our director Emily for this workshop and audition, please contact her by email: [email protected] to book your child a place.

Mike Palmer