Prepare to be transported to the final days of one of England’s most enigmatic figures as That Knave, Raleigh comes to Exeter’s Barnfield Theatre on May 2. Brought to life by Dyad Productions, this one-man tour-de-force delves into the triumphs and tribulations of Sir Walter Raleigh, unravelling his extraordinary life and enduring legacy.
Courtier, explorer, polymath and a man of contradictions. While his dazzling career saw him rise to the heights of Elizabethan power, he fell dramatically from favour by the end of his life. Actor Andrew Margerison says his fascination with Raleigh was sparked while reading a book about him. “I knew he was an explorer and that he defended England against the Spanish Armada, but reading this book made me realise that there was so much I didn’t know about,” says Margerison, “especially when you zoom in on the last two months of his life.”
This one-man tour-de-force delves into the triumphs and tribulations of Sir Walter Raleigh, unravelling his extraordinary life and enduring legacy.
Director for That Knave, Rebecca Vaughan, brings Dyad Productions’ signature approach to their historical storytelling: invent nothing, deny nothing. “We often have an urge to ‘twee-ify’ these people, make them fit our times, make the stories more polite,” she explains. “But we need to resist the urge to change things. Characters from this period are often so extraordinary, you couldn’t make them up.”
Dyad Productions are known for turning literary and historical figures into relatable, convincing people — from Elizabeth I to Virginia Woolf, and now Sir Walter Raleigh. “You get so much from the facts, but eventually, you have to breathe life into them,” says Rebecca. “They aren’t just names, dates, and battles, they are contradictory and human, make mistakes and find successes.” With meticulous research ensuring authenticity and an artistic vision that infuses raw, human emotion, Dyad crafts theatre that is as truthful as it is compelling.
Renowned for their intimate yet high-quality and spectacular performances, the company places literature and history at the heart of every production, breaking the fourth wall to ignite the audience’s imagination. Their dedication to high-quality storytelling, evocative sound and lighting design, and beautifully bespoke crafted costumes ensure that their solo performances feel as immersive as full-scale productions. This commitment to authenticity is evident in the set, which features a 400-year-old Jacobean chair—a remarkable piece of history that travels with the production, enhancing the atmosphere and making the past feel immediate and alive.
With meticulous research ensuring authenticity and an artistic vision that infuses raw, human emotion, Dyad crafts theatre that is as truthful as it is compelling.
Previous audiences have described the play as an “Elizabethan thriller,” praising its theatrical magical realism and the way it breaks the fourth wall, drawing spectators in as both confidants and witnesses to Raleigh’s fate.
Having received five-star reviews across the board, this production is a must-see for theatre lovers and history enthusiasts alike. Don’t miss your chance to witness That Knave, Raleigh at the Barnfield Theatre on May 2—a performance that promises to be as gripping, thought-provoking, and spellbinding as the man himself.
