A new play by Luton theatre-maker Cheryl Prince will be performed inside the town’s stone circle next month as part of International Women’s Day celebrations.
Awaken, created by Prince and her company 5D Theatre, will be presented as a special 20-minute script-in-hand reading at Luton Henge in Marsh House on Sunday 8 March at 6pm. The free event will take place in the site’s amphitheatre, offering audiences the chance to experience the developing production in a setting rooted in community and collective memory.
Commissioned by Revoluton Arts, the reading marks a homecoming of sorts for Prince, who grew up in Luton and has been exploring working-class histories and hidden voices through her recent projects in the town, including Speak Low, Rise High.
Set in 1653, Awaken follows Sarah Spindler, a maidservant forced to flee after being accused of witchcraft in a society shaped by fear, superstition and control over women’s lives. As she hides in the woods with her trusted companion, Sarah must confront whether escape is truly possible or whether her fate has already been sealed.
The play is written in Canting, a historic working-class language that predates Cockney, and seeks to give voice to women and communities often written out of official histories.
The Luton Henge event has been specially adapted to respond to the site, a community-built stone circle that has become a focal point for gatherings and reflection in Marsh Farm. Organisers say the evening will invite audiences not just to watch but to help shape the future direction of the full production as it continues to develop.
The creative team behind the reading is female-led, with Prince joined by director and actor Law Ballard and co-producer Ellie Zeegen. Alongside the performance, the evening will include a panel discussion featuring women speakers, exploring themes of women’s history, wellbeing and theatre to mark International Women’s Day.
Awaken at Luton Henge is free to attend, with booking available via the Revoluton Arts website. The project is supported by Arts Council England.
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