Gunpowder, Treason & Plot by Chris Chambers

"... this speculative use of a familiar story was undeniably impressive." Michael Grosvenor-Myers, Times Higher Education

Act One

A bonfire party in the present day, a ‘guy’ set on the bonfire and many excited party-goers gathered around with their glow-sticks and candy-floss (#1 Gunpowder, Treason & Plot). 

The action moves to the streets of London in the year 1604 (#2 Why Must She Die?). John Wright is begging for medical help for his wife, which is refused. He curses the new King James for the persecution of the Catholics and is arrested for treason. We move to the Court (#3 What Fun We Politicians Are) and to King James, who boasts about his Divine rights (#4 The Divine Right Of Kings) and re-affirms his less than positive attitude towards those of a Catholic faith. 

Two gentlemen, Robert Catesby and Thomas Winter despise these attitudes (#5 The Wisest Fool In Christendom) and use Arabella Stuart’s public walk through the streets (#6 Arabella) to distract the soldiers on the way to the tower with John Wright, to secure his escape. Arabella Stuart is a much-loved cousin to King James and is secretly in a relationship with Thomas Winter. They meet by The Thames and share their feelings for each other and the wider worries for the Catholic population (#7 Join With Me). Winter suggests they find a way to get her on the throne of England. Overheard by Lord Mounteagle, Arabella is summoned by King James, who questions her and makes his own love for her known. (#8 Oh Arabella…) When she resists his advances she is sent to the tower. 

Francis Tresham, who observed the beating of John Wright in the King’s court (#9 Courtly News) attends a party at his sister’s house. She is married to Lord Mounteagle and tempers rise as Tresham insults the King. Alone he resolves to fight the injustice (#10 This is Justice?).

At court, King James indulges in his little games and discusses Walter Raleigh’s vile smoking habit, as his courtiers ask for a date for the opening of parliament (#11 The Date) but the King is more concerned with his own entertainment and commands his courtiers to indulge in a role-play, casting one of them as a stag who must be captured and killed (#12 The Hunt). Finally he sets a date for parliament - November 5th.  

The disaffected Catholics, Catesby, Wright, Winter and Tresham meet in the shadowy back room of The Duck and Drake. They swear an oath (#13 The Oath) to fight the injustices and John Wright describes the passing of his wife and its effect on him (#14 Emily). Catesby announces that they will be joined by another man who will help their cause - Guido Fawkes who is just arriving in London (#15 Guy Fawkes - Soldier of Fortune). He joins the conspirators at The Duck and Drake to hear Catesby’s plan to blow up parliament (#16 The Plot). Tresham’s initial concerns are put aside and they all agree to go ahead with the plot.

Act Two

The conspirators are resolved (#17 November the 5th) but Tresham has doubts and wanting to protect his family, decides to warn Lord Mounteagle by writing an anonymous letter (#18 The Letter), who guesses it’s from his brother-in-law. He reports the letter exposing the plot to King James, but not who sent it. The King tells Arabella of the letter and says if he can’t love her, nobody can - but she continues to express her love for Winter.  The King then becomes angry and leaves. Winter bribes the guards and manages to rescue Arabella from the tower (#19 Together). 

Rumours abound about the plot (#20 Rumour I) and the conspirators accuse Tresham of betraying them, but he denies everything. (#21 Traitor?). Hearing that Arabella has escaped the King is furious (#22 Oh Arabella…). 

Back on the streets of London, (#23 Rumour II). Guido Fawkes is pretending to look after the ‘King’s Fuel’ and spends the night in the cellar under the Houses of Parliament (#24a The Cellar) where he has a dream (#24b The Dream). However, Lord Mounteagle knows he is lying (#24c Realisation) and catches Fawkes in the act of lighting the fuse (#24d Capture). 

Fawkes is taken to King James (#25 Condemnation) who orders that he is tortured until he confesses, and he does (#26 Torture). Bates goes to Holbeach House to warn the conspirators (#27 The Prayer) but they are tracked down by Lord Mounteagle. (#28 The Battle) They are all killed, except Arabella and Tresham. Lord Mounteagle lets a distraught Tresham go, turning a blind eye to his involvement to save his reputation, but returns Arabella to the mercy of the King.

Fawkes awaits punishment in his cell (#29 Rays of Light) and is then dragged to the gallows where King James orders his execution (#30 Final Word). He is hanged, at which point the action moves back to the bonfire party in the present day with the ‘Guy’ hanging over the bonfire. (#31 Gunpowder, Treason & Plot).

Characters                                                                            

Principals (7m, 1f)

• John Wright – conspirator (m)
• Francis Tresham – conspirator (m)
• Thomas Winter - conspirator - in love with Arabella Stuart (m)
• Robert Catesby - conspirator and originator of the Plot (m)
• Guy Fawkes – a soldier (m)
• King James I – Monarch (m)
• Arabella Stuart, - King James’ cousin, with a claim to the throne (f)
• Lord Mounteagle, English Peer & King’s adviser - Tresham’s brother-in-law (m)

Support (1m, 1f, 2m/f + ensemble of 10+ (m/f))

• Kit – a townsperson (m/f)
• Fletch –  a townsperson (m/f)
• Lady Mounteagle (f) - wife of Lord Mounteagle
• Bates (m) - Catesby's serving-man
• Ensemble - (*Solo Singing Lines) Bonfire Party-goers*, Queen Anne, Guards*, Courtiers*, Townspeople*, Landlord, Doctor, Ladies-in-waiting, Emily, Angels, Demons, Torturers, Executioner*

Songs

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