Warning: Eyam is not a light show to take in, but it will certainly shine a light on how the plague spread around England in 1665, particularly in a small town in Derbyshire called Eyam, with only a few hundred inhabitants.
The story written by Matt Hartley tells of the arrival of Reverend William Mompesson and his wife Katherine to the village and his initial struggle with finding his place as a respected reverend. Indeed, Philip Sheldon seems to be leading the show around town, making the villagers rely on him for their livelihood, similarly to the Butcher in the film “Gangs of New York” – a reference that comes up in one quick moment in this play. When the plague reaches the village, its inhabitants must decide whether to live under quarantine or to leave, risking to infect neighbouring villages.
The set design by Hannah Clark coats the Globe’s boards with a thick black carpet, possibly influencing the way voices reverberate around the space. The costumes, also by Clark, are richly textured, also all black. Most actors are wearing hats and wigs, with men wearing long hair. The wigs were particularly striking, with the overall design really taking me to another time.
