Joanna Carrick on The Ungodly
We caught up with The Ungodly writer and director Joanna Carrick on the play’s upcoming transfer to New York Off-Broadway!
The play was researched and written by Joanna during the COVID pandemic as part of a National Lottery Heritage Fund project exploring the 17th Century witch hunts in East Anglia. The Ungodly was first performed at The Avenue Theatre in October 2023 and wowed sell-out audiences and reviewers alike! It then transferred to London in 2024 to the Southwark Playhouse Borough and received 2 Offie nominations for best lighting design and best ensemble; Vincent Moisy, Nadia Jackson, Christopher Ashman and Rei Mordue.
Firstly, how excited are you to be taking your play The Ungodly to New York?
I can’t really believe it’s happening. It’s so exciting that a play that started life at The Avenue has captured people’s imaginations in such a powerful way. It was really exciting to take the show to The Southwark Playhouse in London and going to America with it is amazing. Personally, I’ve never been to New York before and I can’t wait.
How do you think American audiences will react to the play?
The Ungodly always seems to get audiences to draw parallels between the 17thcentury witch-hunts and issues effecting the world today. I’m sure the American audiences will do the same and I’m fascinated to see what they make of it. Of course comparisons with Arthur Miller will be in people’s minds and I hope that The Ungodly will create a political discourse in the way the Crucible did in the 1950s.
Have you been surprised by the reaction the play has had so far from audiences in both Suffolk and London?
Yes. When I wrote the play, I knew that it would reflect many of the issues that we face today, particularly the rising tide of misogyny in a variety of different contexts, but I didn’t think for a moment that people would pick up on these resonances with so much conviction and passion.
When you were writing the play, what struck you most in your research and drove you to write the story of the Edwards?
At first, I wanted to understand and unpack this very dark episode in history, particularly because it happened so close to home. For a while I was daunted by the character of Matthew Hopkins and found him difficult to relate to in any way, but as time went by and I became more immersed in the preoccupations of the day, it all began to make a twisted sense to me. Once I found the characters of Susan and Richard Edwards, I became really inspired to tell a story about the way normal, decent people can be drawn into an ideology and end up doing dreadful things.
When you watch the show, what is your favourite part?
I think my favourite scene is the one that ends the first half. It’s the one where they become convinced about the reality of witchcraft and when Mathew starts to become the witchfinder. It’s the moment after which there is no going back.
You are an incredible writer, so what’s next…???
I have recently been developing a play called Milk Monitor about the mothers of men who are serving life sentences for murder. I also have two historical plays in development, one about Nina Layard, a pioneering Victorian archaeologist and another about 14th century Florence, Savonarola and the Bonfire of the Vanities. I’m so excited about all these projects….plus we are bringing back a much-loved play of mine next year, Fallen in Love, the story of Anne Boleyn and her brother George.
The Ungodly is heading to New York for 59E59 Theaters Brits Off Broadway festival from 24th April – 11 May
You can see the play before it heads to America in 3 special preview performances at the Avenue Theatre on 4th & 5th April
