Maria Marten; or, Murder in the Red Barn, Part 1

Summary: 1980 BBC production of Douglas Livingstone’s version of the 19th-century melodrama Maria Marten; or, The Murder in the Old Red Barn, presented in three parts on three consecutive days.
Theatre play: Maria Marten; or The Murder in the Red Barn by Anon. [more information]
Play synopsis: A Victorian melodrama which, in various versions, was a great hit on the 19th-century stage. ‘The Red Barn Murder was a notorious murder committed in Polstead, Suffolk, England, in 1827. A young woman, Maria Marten, was shot dead by her lover, William Corder. The two had arranged to meet at the Red Barn, a local landmark, before eloping to Ipswich. Maria was never heard from again. Corder fled the scene and, although he sent Marten’s family letters claiming she was in good health, her body was later discovered buried in the barn after her stepmother spoke of having dreamt about the murder. Corder was tracked down in London, where he had married and started a new life. He was brought back to Suffolk, and after a well-publicised trial, found guilty of murder. He was hanged in Bury St Edmunds in 1828; a huge crowd witnessed Corder’s execution. The story provoked numerous articles in the newspapers, and songs and plays.' Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Barn_Murder.
Production history: 19th century.
Date of transmission: Sunday 28 December 1980
Time: 8.15-9.15pm
Channel: BBC2
Production company: BBC

Director

Jane Howell

Producer

Richard Beynon

Lighting

Robert Cartwright

Adaptor of Script

Douglas Livingstone

Composer

Dudley Simpson (1922-)

Designer

Allan Anson

Script Editor

Adrian Vale

Cast

Title: Maria Marten; or, The Murder in the Red Barn (BBC, 1980)
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