This musical draws us back to the events of 5 November 1605 when that most famed and infamous act of treason was foiled. Refreshingly it is not an overfamiliar, theme park version of the Gunpowder Plot and Guido – or Guy – Fawkes has little more than a walk-on part. The concert, with music and lyrics by Ricky Allan and Kieran Lynn, was first digitally released in 2021 and now bursts into life with its fresh take on a well-known slice of British history.
Directed by Hannah Chissick, the story of co-conspirator Thomas Percy (Bradley Jaden) takes centre stage. We follow his disenchantment over the persecution of Catholics during the reign of King James, into extremism under the guidance of Robert Catesby (Simon Anthony-Rhoden), who leads the plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Alongside is Martha Percy (Carrie Hope Fletcher) and this is her story too – of how Thomas’s pull towards violent protest and hate leaves her alienated and morally compromised.
