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Director Cassie Tillett is ending her ten year tenure as Artistic Director at Sewell Barn Theatre by directing a guaranteed crowd pleaser from Yorkshire legend JB Priestley.

When We Are Married is a skilfully written work that punctures the pomposity of local pomp in this play that reflects the contemporary values of a Yorkshire town in 1908. JB Priestley was an astute observer of social mores and used this skill to highlight some of the absurdities of English social values and customs.

The play centres on three couple who are, in their own eyes at least, respected leaders of the local community. They have got together to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary having all been married by the same priest on the same day. Earlier they have summonsed the chapel organist Gerald Forbes (Jamie Radcliffe), a Southerner who they have doubts about. He is walking out with Nancy Holmes (Naomi Cunningham) and has been spotted canoodling in the woods, an affront to the dignity of his post apparently. They plan to dismiss him from his post. He however has an unexpected trick up his sleeve, having discovered that the priest who married them all was not in fact qualified to do so. This shocking truth creates the bulk of the plot of the play as each character reacts differently to the new status of the six posh people.

To spice the action up we have a visiting press team in the form of reporter Fred Dyson (Jeremiah Humphreys-Piercy) and serial drunkard photographer Henry Ormonroyd, played with great panache by Sewell Barn stalwart Kevin Oelrichs. The demure maid Ruby (Cathy Bowman) is counterbalanced by the screeching cook Mrs Northropp (Helen Wells) on a mission to prick the pomposity of her employers.

The play is set in the grand house of Alderman Joseph Helliwell (Jamie Willimott) and his wife (or not) Maria (Karen Bates). They are joined by Councillor Albert Parker (Giles Conneely) and his wife Annie (Laura Green) and hen pecked Herbert Soppitt (Les Roberts) and his bossy wife Clara (Dawn Brindle). These six give us myriad little vignettes of the power play between groups of friends and between couples.

The large cast are all competent and cope with the rigours of the West Yorkshire dialect while bringing to life the many distinct characters penned by Priestley. Any perception that Priestley’s work is a bit stuffy and old fashioned soon disappears as this production gives us a bright, fast paced and funny account of some very real human dilemmas that transcend changing fashions and values.

This show is great fun and the auditorium was packed this evening. Although geographically specific the themes in this play are universal, and it is bursting with comedy and pathos. A great night out for a warm summer evening!

© Julian Swainson
Norwich Eye
17 July 2026

When We Are Married by Sewell Barn Theatre plays at 7.30 pm on 22-25 July, with a 2.30 matinée on 25th July. Contact www.sewellbarn.org for tickets and further info.