Amersham Martyrs
Community Play

Over the past few of years, Amersham Museum has staged two community plays about the Amersham Martyrs, to bring alive the history of the town. (Pictures provided by Anthony del Tufo, captions by Henry Wizgier )

Court scene. (Left to right) John Scrivenor (played by Pete Holt), Thomas Holmes (Henry Wizgier), Joan Norman (Ines del Tufo) and Thomas Barnard (Derek Wescott) awaiting to be tried. This is the actual beginning of the trial, they are all standing as the Bishop and Archdeacon enter the church. (The actual place of the trial is not known, but it was probably that very church). All four were excommunicated and subsequently burned up on Rectory Hill.	The plays told the story of the 16th century Martyrs of Amersham. The Martyrs were burned at the stake in 1506 and 1521 for their religious beliefs. They were part of a group of religious reformers - Lollards - who believed in such things as reading the Bible in English and worshiping in English rather than the Latin then used in the churches. They wanted the freedom to worship and believe with their own minds and not just accept the unquestioning doctrines of the Catholic church of the time.
These views were at total odds with the Church who organized protracted religious courts to convict the non conformists or heretics and to punish them. The Church hoped this would set an example and would prevent others from following the Lollards ways. It is ironic that about 50 years after the Martyrs were burnt, much of what they had believed in became the norm - services in English.	Fiery Joan Norman (Ines del Tufo), the third to be tried. She was dragged out screaming abuse at the Bishop. Standing behind her is Rector Gilbert (Martin Baxter) of St. Mary's church, who gave evidence.
The Archdeacon of Buckingham (Nick Gleason) and the Bishop of Lincoln John Longland (John Downs), who pronounced the final sentences.	Rector Gilbert
	The play was first produced by the Amersham Museum in 2001. It was so successful that all four performances sold out well before the production opened
In 2003 it was decided to produce the play again, to be performed in March 2004. It was again directed by Stan Pretty, the professional director who also produced the 2003 Passion Play in Amersham
	The play was a promenade performance with a cast of over 150 adults and children and took place in St. Mary's Church in Old Amersham. As well as gathering together all the actors, a choir was also formed to recreate the musical sounds of the 16th century. The age range of all those taking part was from 2 to 84.
Again in 2004 the play was a great success, with five of the six performances played to a full house. In 2001 the play raised over £2000 for Amersham Museum (a registered charity) and the 2004 performances raised over £5000.
	A performer in the recreation of Amersham Fair in 1511. This provided a light break from the tragedies.
Another view of Amersham Fair in 1511. The lady with sword is performing a Mummers Play, the sort of entertainment fairground visitors were treated to before the age of dodgems etc.	Another view of the Mummers Play during the fair.
The fairground audience	Those who attended the plays (about 1,000 in 2001 and 1,400 in 2004) were treated to a very different theatrical experience. On entering St. Mary's Church, the playgoer is immediately in the thick of the action as the actors mingle around the whole church re enacting typical scenes of 16th century Amersham. There is no stage as such, the action takes place all around the playgoer.
At first it is confusing with the 21st century audience mixing with the 16th century characters. Little bits of dialogue are over heard and small stories unfold, including problems with the local thatcher, baker, suggested herbal remedies and who should be put in the stocks. The lights then dim and the main play starts. This comprised of various scenes taking place on small stages dotted around the church, the action being picked out by lighting effects. The scenes tell the story of the Martyrs, starting off in 1506 by setting the scene at a Lollards meeting, the meeting is then broken up by the church authorities and the leader - William Tylesworth - is taken away (to eventually be burnt at the stake). Then a moving scene where the Martyrs's family appeals for help to save their husband and father.	The fairground audience
More Fairground performers.	More Fairground performers.
The entertainment of the 1511 fair delights the crowd	The focus then moves back to amongst the audience with the procession to the stake with special lighting effects recreating the flames, the villagers shouting at those taking part and the branding of Tylesworth's daughter as a heretic, the Martyrs Choir provided emotional musical accompaniment.
Then the audience are taken forward in time to 1521 to the home of John and Sarah Scrivenor debating whether the cause is worth the hardship (if the husband is taken away, what will happen to the family he leaves behind). The time span from 1506 to 1521 is traversed via a recreation of the Charter Fair of 1511, with dancers, singers, mummers and jugglers amongst the entertainment.
	The final scene was of the religious court of 1521 which tried the heretics and sentenced them to be burnt at the stake. Included in the court scene was the tricking of a 10 year old child to betray their father by showing how they could read in English better than Latin, an argument between the Bishop and Joan Norman over the use of the English language in religious ceremonies and the last Martyr, John Scrivenor, is found "guilty" and with his family ordered to light the fire when he was to be burnt at the stake. One final "suspect", Thomas Harding, was "let off" after he denounced others.
The young lady with her arms round the children is Sarah Scrivenor (Emma Stone), arriving in the courtroom with the Scrivenor "babes" as they were referred to (not sure of their names) to plead for her husband John's life. Alas it was to no avail, Scrivenor was the last one to be sentenced to death and Sarah and her babes were ordered to set his pyre alight, as a pennance. This photo was taken just before the final action where they have to be dragged screaming out of the courtroom.


The audience were right in the middle of the action, which at times was very powerful and atmospheric.

	All the actors were dressed in period costumes all made especially for the plays, including authentic shoes made by a cobbler. Many of the costumes are simple reflecting the simple poor life "enjoyed" by many of the inhabitants of Amersham in the 16th century.
The play received very favourable reaction and reviews. Those who attended were able to glimpse the life of 16th Century Amersham and to more fully understand the causes and circumstances surrounding the Martyrs of Amersham.


The pictures on this page are a random selection from the dress rehearsals. The cast of the play was split into two groups with each group taking turns to play the different characters in the actual performances.

The play was generously sponsored by Awards for All , Amersham Town Council and Chiltern Railways