Origins of the Witchfinder General

Not Just the Tudors

History Hit

History

4.8 • 3K Ratings

🗓️ 30 October 2023

⏱️ 40 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In the 1640s, Matthew Hopkins gave himself the grandiose title of Witchfinder General and set himself the task of purging England of witches. But where did his obsession come from and why did he adopt this monstrous role?

In this episode of Not Just the Tudors, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb talks to playwright Joanna Carrick, whose new work The Ungodly at the Avenue Theatre in Ipswich, explores these very questions.

This episode was edited by Joseph Knight and produced by Rob Weinberg.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	During the Anarchy of the British Civil War in the 1640s, one individual set about trying
0:13.4	to restore a degree of order. His methods would reap a harvest of pain. He was Matthew
0:21.1	Hopkins, who gave himself the grandiose title Witchfinder General, and set himself a
0:27.5	grandiose task to purge England of witches. His obsession would drive the most brutal
0:34.5	witch hunt in English history. But where did it come from? This obsession of his. What
0:40.1	shaped this man to adopt this monstrous role? And to imagine that by doing so, he was carrying
0:46.3	out God's work.
0:48.6	A new play by Joanna Carrick, called The Ungodly, now performing at Avenue Theatre in
0:53.3	Ipswich, explores these very questions.
0:56.3	Joanna Carrick is artistic director and founder of Red Rose Chain, a not-for-profit theatre
1:01.6	company that delivers a vibrant programme of plays and centres inclusion and accessibility.
1:07.6	Joe's also a playwright. One of her previous plays, Fallen in Love, explores the relationship
1:12.7	between Ambulin and her brother George, I saw it in Ipswich, and again during Ips
1:16.5	Run at the Tower of London, and it's touring in 2024, so do look out for it.
1:21.6	But today we're talking about another one of Joe's historically plausible and dramatically
1:26.6	riveting plays, The Ungodly and the emergence of Witch Hunter Matthew Hopkins. And please
1:33.2	note, there will be references to baby mortality in our discussion.
1:38.9	The Ungodly is performing at the Avenue Theatre in Ipswich until the 11th of November.
1:44.4	Get there if you can.
1:51.6	Joanna Carrick, welcome to not just the tutors.
1:54.1	I'm so glad to be here, Susanna, it's great, thank you.
1:57.4	I'm a long time fan of your work, and your new play The Ungodly is wonderful, it's a
	...

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