The Lady's Not For Burning

2007 marks the centenary of the birth of one of the UK’s best known verse playwrights – Christopher Fry. The multi-award-winning Finborough Theatre begins its poetryatthefinborough series with a major revival of his most famous work – The Lady’s Not for Burning.

England, 1400. Thomas Mendip, a discharged soldier weary of the world and eager to leave it, comes to a small town, announces he has committed murder and demands to be hanged. Much to his annoyance, the town’s Mayor and his officials oppose his request and instead are determined to hang Jennet, an attractive woman accused of witchcraft. Amidst the confusion of a local wedding and the dilemma of who will or won’t be hanged in the morning, an unlikely wooing takes place…

Originally produced in the West End 1949 with John Gielgud, Richard Burton and Claire Bloom, the production transferred to Broadway and won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award. The play has also been seen in a much-lauded production with Derek Jacobi and Eileen Atkins at the Old Vic in 1978, Chichester in 2002 and as a TV version starring Kenneth Branagh.