From: 17 July 2008
To: 27 July 2008
‘BURNT AT THE STAKE’
SPECIAL EVENT
The Guernsey ‘History in Action’ Company are proud to present two special promenade performances of ‘Burnt at the Stake’ on:
Thursday 17th July from 6.15pm – approx 7.15 pm and Sunday 27th July 6.15pm – approx 7.15pm (FREE)
The story of ‘Burnt at the Stake’ is set in 1556 and tells of Catherine Cauchés and her two daughters Perotine and Guillemine. This is a tale of innocent women caught up in the religious conflicts of the Reformation as Protestants and Catholics vie for supremacy. A web of malicious gossip and political expediency has terrible consequences as they are accused of heresy and sentenced to be burnt at the stake. Perotine, who is heavily pregnant, gives birth to her child on the pyre. The Master Gunner of Castle Cornet rescues the child, only to have the Bailiff (a Jersey man), return him to the flames.
The story begins at 6.15pm from the Picquet House as we follow the women as they are led from their imprisonment in Castle Cornet, through Fountain Street to Tower Hill. Here The Guernsey ‘History in Action’ Company will enact the events which led up to the tragedy as an outdoor presentation in front of the Equity Trust building.
For the people of Guernsey at this time, burnings were a public spectacle and the townspeople would have followed the women as they were taken to Tower Hill. We invite today’s audience to step back into the past and to follow the group as they are led to their fate.
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