Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s latest production Jane Wenham: The Witch of Walkern is opening soon at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. The play is inspired by the true events of one of the last witch trials which took place in a village in Hertfordshire. It tells the story of a village which has been free from witch-hunts for years until Jane Wenham is blamed for a tragic death – and subsequently charged with witchcraft. The village is torn between those who want to save her life, and those who claim to want to save her soul. The production has been created with Out of Joint, Watford Palace Theatre and Arcola Theatre in association with Eastern Angles. Lenkiewicz was approached by Max Stafford-Clark of Out of Joint to write the play and she describes how she found the idea ‘fascinating’ as ‘the outsider always appealed to me.’

As the story is based on true events Lenkiewicz had to do extensive research for the production. She describes how, ‘I read and I YouTubed and I read and I YouTubed. In a more modern piece I would conduct interviews but for this it’s more about documentaries and books. We also went to Walkern to look at the village and read about its history.’ This research has helped her to create a truthful and realistic portrayal of Jane Wenham’s story, which focuses on themes such as sex, nature and the supernatural, as well as blasting society’s hunger to find, or indeed create, witches.

As well as being an accomplished playwright, Lenkiewicz also writes screenplays to critical acclaim. She co-wrote Ida with Pawel Pawlikowski about a nun in 1960s Poland, which this year won both an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film and also a BAFTA. She is now currently working on another film about the Second World War allied spy Noor Inayat Khan. Writing for both mediums (film and theatre) can be tricky but Lenkiewicz manages it explaining that:

‘They are a slightly different muscle but in an ideal world they are both about interesting characters and stories and telling the truth in some way. I love the freedom of film in that you just cut to a different location, no constraints. But I love the freedom of theatre that someone can just continue to have a conversation.’

Lenkiewicz had an interesting route to becoming a playwright. Originally studying Film and English at university she then went on to train as an actor at Central School of Speech and Drama. Afterwards, she worked as an actress for seven years before she decided to turn her hand to writing, eventually producing her first play when she was 32.

Despite not starting her writing career until later on, Lenkiewicz has great advice and tips for young, aspiring playwrights: ‘Find people who you really enjoy working with. It can be quite isolating and there is more energy if you have a director or actor who is attached to your work. Don’t pay any mind to rejection. My play The Night Season was universally rejected and sometimes for ridiculous reasons and then The National Theatre took it on. So just keep the faith.’ She goes on to say, ‘But listen to people if you trust them and their notes. The play has to be cracked open at some point, you can’t keep it as a secret. It’s great to hear the play at some point. After a first draft – informally. Then go back to it with what you’ve learnt from the reading.’

Lenkiewicz has high hopes for this latest production, despite a few minor setbacks, ‘I hope that the production will have a great tour and be seen by a lot of teenagers as well as older audiences. A performance of it has been cancelled by Ipswich High School because of the content and swearing which I think is really sad. The swearing is minimal and whilst the subject matter is harsh it deals with many problems that we are facing today.’ Her enthusiasm is apparent, not just for her latest work but also for her rising career, ‘For myself I hope to keep writing and to endeavour to stay nominally sane, there can be challenges….but I love writing, with a passion.’

Jane Wenham: The Witch of Walkern is currently touring until 30 January. It tours to Courtyard Theatre, West Yorkshire Playhouse between 21– 24 October.

Photo Credit: Richard Davenport