Blow The Wind Fair - our last production

Sunday 29th June to Tuesday 1st July 2008

St.Saviour's Church, Dartmouth

About the Play

This play was commissioned by the organisers of Hawley 600, for performance by the Dartmouth Players in the atmospheric venue of St. Saviour’s Church, Dartmouth; within a few feet of the tomb of John Hawley and a within the section of the church that Hawley himself  built.

The production dramatises the life of the, well known historical second John Hawley who died in 1408. Linda Churchill and Bill Hunt carried out considerable historical background research into the known facts of Hawley’s life and are particularly thankful to Richard Webb, Publisher, for sight of an advance copy of a new book, John Hawley, Merchant, Mayor and Privateer, by Michael Conners. The book was launched during the Hawley 600 week.

The action of the play took place during the period when Hawley was incarcerated in the Tower of London in 1406 and includes reminiscences of characters and events in his life including the battle of Blackpool Sands. Like all theatre productions and screenplays of historical people, fiction is created to fill in gaps in our knowledge and ensure a thoroughly entertaining experience.

The play was performed with the following cast in order of appearance:

John Hawley, aged 66. Burgess of Dertemuth.       Bill Hunt                                                                Robson, gaoler in the Tower of London.                 Norman Cork

Hansford, cook to John Hawley.                            Christine  Brooker 

Anna, servant to John Hawley.                              Louise Adams  

Willcott,             messenger.                               John Phipps                                        

Joan Hawley       First wife to John Hawley.           Paula Bell                                                      

Thomas Asshendon    Friend of the Hawley’s.        Keith Pockett                             

Cockwill Governess to Hawley the younger.           Thelma Guiney 

John Hawley, aged 40. Burgess of Dertemuth.        William Knight                                                      Georges de St Amiens, merchant of Bordeaux.       Norman Cork 

Madeleine de St Amiens,his daughter.                   Heather Davenport                                              Marie-Cecile  his Servant.                                     Janet Godfrey 

Roger, a stone mason at the fortalice.                    Martin Gresswell     

Peter,  another stone mason.                                Stan Aylett                                     

Richard Harry, Burgess of Dertemuth.                     Keith Pockett                                     

Stapleton,  watchman of Dertemuth.                       Stan Aylett

Will, a Dertemuth man at the inn.                           Norman Cork 

Bertha, his wife.                                                   Anna Gwillam                                               

Hannah,  a Dertemuth wife at the inn.                    Janet Godfrey                                    

Agnes, wife to Roger.                                           Daphne Twinberrow                  

Nicholas Baker , an archer and messenger.           Norman Cork                                          

Alexandre de St Amiens, a Breton Knight.             William Knight                                                     Ainsworth, master of the cog Le Marie Sienna.       Stan Aylett                                                

Innkeeper, of the tavern.                                       John Phipps   

Rider , the Kings messenger.                                Stan Aylett                   

Others, Dertemuth people at the inn.                           

The play was directed by the writer, Linda Churchill with a backstage team of John Stephenson, Jeni Gould, Alison Adams, Moira and Keith Stocks. The performances were well attended  with very positive feedback from audiences.