Hannah Jones and John Davis in The Clearing – photo © Sewell Barn Theatre and Grant Barker

 

Helen Edmundson’s play is set in Ireland in 1650 yet sadly its theme is as relevant today as ever, looking at the brutal displacement of a population by a malevolent occupying force. In this instance both native Irish workers and English farm owners who picked the wrong side in the civil war are ousted by Cromwell’s vicious officers and troops.

This beautifully written work focuses on the fate of a mixed couple, where an English husband has an Irish wife. This allows a close examination of the mechanisms of racial hatred. In this time the Irish are generally treated very badly by their English overlords, yet Madeline Preston (Hannah Jones) is a hugely powerful and fearless woman while her husband Robert Preston (John Davis) appears to have the cold blooded selfishness bred into the boarding school class of English landowners. Their relationship and its challenges forms the core of this drama, and these two actors both give a memorable performance. Their friends and neighbouring farmers Soloman Winter (Trevor Burton) and Susaneh Winter (Mandy Kiley) are under the same threat of displacement to the wastelands of Connaught and their marriage is also troubled by their imminent eviction.

Madeline is comforted by her childhood friend Killaine (Jo Parker Session). Jo gives us a well studied character who suffers more than her fair share of trauma as the drama unfolds. They also have an old friend Pierce Kinsellagh (David McCabe) who has become a rebel outlaw hiding from the soldiers.

The final major character is Cromwell’s local enforcer, Sir Charles Sturman. Chris Bealey (who also directs the play) gives us someone who can unite us all in our hatred of him in a chilling performance of an abusive tyrant.

As ever at Sewell Barn the set is minimal but impressive, creating a backdrop of an Irish Holy Tree set against a containing English wall hinting at the future march of enclosures across the land.

The acting as ever in this delightful theatre is of the highest standard, and good use is made of the versatile performance space in this intimate venue. It would be nice to view this as an historic account, but the desperate plight of communities in Gaza, Eastern Ukraine and many other troubled parts of the world gives it an almost painful poignancy. It also reminds us that those who spread misinformation and sow division are as guilty as the soldiers and bullies who carry out the physical attacks. The Irish are seen by the English as sub-human ‘others’ fit only for enslavement and servitude.

In spite of the dark themes and often grim details this is nonetheless a rewarding and uplifting evening of theatre that I greatly enjoyed. It is well paced with some moving music from Martha Bealey and Nina Taylor enhancing the atmosphere. The real inspiration though comes from Hannah Jones’ performance as Madeline, a powerful and life affirming strong woman, something that is still all too rare in modern stage drama. With a capable cast and a powerful story this is a perfect evening of theatre in Norwich, just the thing to banish the winter blues and send you home inspired to be a better person.

© Julian Swainson
Norwich Eye
27th February 2025

The Clearing is at Sewell Barn Theatre on 27 Feb – 1 Mar and 5-8 March at 7.30 pm, with a matinée on 8 Mar at 2.30pm. Tickets and further information from www.sewellbarn.org