Margery Kempe brought to life

After centuries of neglect, the 15th century author, pilgrim and mystic Margery Kempe of Lynn is bursting out all over.

She is the subject of a hit play The Saintliness Of Margery Kempe; showing on Broadway.

A Margery Kempe Society was formed at a conference about her at Oxford University last April.

King’s Lynn Civic Society recently honoured her with a handsome engraved bench situated outside her beloved Minster.

And now ‘Skirting Heresy,’ an epic production written by Wall Street journalist, book author and playwright Elizabeth MacDonald, scheduled for its premiere in Lynn Minster (her beloved parish church 600 years ago), is in production in her home town.

Margery Kempe’s Book, the first autobiography in English, is taught at American Universities and there has always been academic interest on the other side of the pond. New Yorker MacDonald has been studying Kempe and Lynn since the mid-’90s, and her play based on her book was prompted by a visit to Lynn and a tour by Lynn historian Dr Paul Richards.

In May, the committee appointed Chris Yarnell, a first class freelance director and physical theatre maker based in London. His previous work has won the Les Enfants Terribles Partnership Award and The Stage Award.

Jan Sayer, a native of Lynn North End who also happens to be a former stage manager of Sydney Opera House, will be stage manager and it has a local cast and band.

Ticket info: https://kingslynncornexchange.co.uk/whats-on/event/skirting-heresy/