The new community play from York Theatre Royal is almost here – and it stars a professional Yorkshire actor.
The play is inspired by the remains of an unknown woman discovered in a shallow pit by the river Foss and displayed in a glass case in the Jorvik Viking Centre in York.
Known as the Coppergate Woman, she will be brought to life in a play by Hull writer Maureen Lennon that weaves Viking legend with the stories of modern day York people.
The Coppergate Woman is at York Theatre Royal from Saturday 30 July to Sunday 7 August 2022.
The production stars Yorkshire-born Kate Hampson, the only professional actor among the 90-strong community cast of local people.
Kate was born, brought up and still lives in Yorkshire and trained at York St John University and The Utrecht School of Arts.
A star of stage and screen, Kate’s theatre experiences include Tapestry (Northern Broadsides), Mary Barton (Alnwick Playhouse & tour), New Playwrights (York Theatre Royal), and Vignettes (Hope Mill Theatre).
Her television credits include Happy Valley, Doctors, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks and Coronation Street.
Kate said “Having lived in York for more than half my life, I have enjoyed many a trip to learn about the Vikings in Coppergate. I am therefore absolutely thrilled to be playing the part of the Coppergate Woman at the brilliant York Theatre Royal.
“It’s an epic tale and I’m so excited to work with the wonderful community cast.”
Tickets start from £15 and are available via the York Theatre Royal website.