In autumn 2024, we began working with a group of young people in Gainsborough on our annual Literacy Project. Our aim was to increase literacy skills and creativity through the development of a new piece of theatre, and to bring the local community together. Writer Neil Edwards put forward 17 different ideas for the young people to select a theme from, with subjects ranging from hot-off-the-press news stories to historical tales, thrillers, and mysteries.

This year, we had an avid history fan in the group who pitched hard for a historical production; swayed by his passion, the group discarded the more contemporary topics in favour of ‘The Spy Network,’ the true story of The Babbington Plot; a tale of Elizabethan espionage surrounding Mary Queen of Scots. The group worked to develop the idea, even suggesting a change to the ending with a cunning plot twist!

In January, there was a trip to Gainsborough Old Hall to learn more about Elizabethan lifestyles and for the young people to get a feel for the period. By March, it was time for auditions to be held at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre, where the group cast 3 talented professional actors to take on the task of bringing this multi-role play to life.

When production week came around, they got hands-on experience creating the backdrops and props for the play, working hard to get everything prepared ahead of our tech and dress rehearsals.

Synopsis

On the morning of February 8, 1587, the 44-year-old Mary Stuart visits the great hall in which she will soon be put to death for treason. There, she encounters Barnaby Fulke, an enigmatic man of the stage, sent to provide merriment to all those who have come to witness her downfall.

Keen to set the record straight, Mary finds herself revisiting some of the scenes that led to her appointment with the axeman. But history, as she knows, isn’t written until the last act is played – and in the life of the former Queen of Scots, there is still one final scene left to play.

However, The Spy Network was just one of three elements being shared at Trinity Arts Centre that night. We also worked on story development with sixth form students from the Aegir School to create a new short film with a working title of ‘The Portal,’ a story following a group of adventurers who discover strange lands, alternative realities and a dragon in danger. A third group of local young people aged 13+ gathered together to create a curtain raiser piece which they called ‘Feast of Fools.’ They devised their piece around the theme of a potentially poisonous Tudor banquet for Henry VIII, and combined slapstick comedy with a twist.

We were absolutely delighted that the 3 branches of the project came together so well in an evening of theatre that captured the audience’s imaginations. We enjoyed a full house in addition to an online streaming audience and received very positive feedback about everything the young people had achieved.