FROM THE BARN ARCHIVES

The Late Edwina Black

By William Dinner and William Morum
Directed by Maureen Davies
24th April – 2nd May 2026 at 8:00pm
Matinee on 2nd at 2:30pm

Approx. 2 hours with one interval.

The most dangerous victim is the one who refuses to stay dead

It’s a credit to the writers that audiences are kept guessing until the last moment, and the ending is still a surprise.

Set in the oppressive drawing room of Amberwood House on the day before Edwina Black’s funeral, this atmospheric Victorian thriller begins with an air of barely concealed relief. The domineering Edwina has finally died, liberating her schoolmaster husband Gregory from years of her tyrannical control. His wife’s paid companion Elizabeth and the devoted housekeeper Ellen also seem strangely affected by their mistress’s passing.

But when the methodical Inspector Martin arrives with devastating news – a post-mortem has revealed something deeply suspicious – the atmosphere of tentative freedom transforms into one of mounting dread. As the Inspector’s seemingly innocuous questions probe deeper into Edwina’s final day, the relationships between the three survivors begin to fracture under pressure. Long-buried secrets surface, loyalties are tested, and motivations become increasingly unclear.

Within the claustrophobic confines of the Victorian drawing room, with Edwina’s beloved wind chimes still haunting the house, the Inspector employs psychological tactics to uncover the truth. But in a house where everyone had reason to wish Edwina dead, discovering what really happened becomes a dangerous game of suspicion and accusation.

This ingeniously plotted mystery builds to a shocking revelation that will leave audiences questioning everything they thought they knew. Some secrets, it seems, are powerful enough to reach from beyond the grave.

Get Your Tickets

CAST & CREATIVE TEAM

Directed by
Maureen Davies

CAST

Elizabeth Graham
Inspector Henry Martin
Gregory Black

CREATIVE TEAM

MEDIA & REVIEWS​

It’s a credit to the writers that audiences are kept guessing until the last moment, and the ending is still a surprise.
An amazingly clever offering that contains love, betrayal, revenge, murder and intrigue.
The Late Edwina Black is probably their best-known play and, like all good thrillers, has you guessing right until the end.
This enclosed mystery is considered a safe bet in terms of police intrigue set in Victorian England.

DON'T FORGET, COMING UP AT THE BARN SOON​

CONTENT WARNING

CONTENT WARNING

CONTENT WARNING

 

WE'RE Here To HELP

Do you have a question? Do you need help?

Feel free to contact us and we’ll be more than happy to answer your questions.

If you need to contact a specific department eg. Box Office, please select it from the dropdown list.

Top Person @ 12 O'ClockPerson @ 2 O'ClockPerson @ 5 O'ClockPerson @ 7 O'ClockPerson @ 9 O'ClockCentre Heart

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

The Late Edwina Black

We acknowledge the historical context of The Late Edwina Black, written in 1949 and set in Victorian England (1895). While the play explores themes highly relevant to contemporary audiences – particularly coercive control, economic abuse and toxic relationships – the playwrights do not specify casting characteristics such as race or ethnicity as crucial to the narrative. Our production welcomes actors of diverse backgrounds to bring fresh perspectives to these complex characters, whilst respecting the period setting and the authors’ intentions. We are committed to ensuring that our production honours the play’s psychological sophistication while creating opportunities for the most diverse cast possible within the context of this Victorian chamber piece.

The Full Monty Charity Preview Night at the Barn Theatre, Welwyn Garden City - September 2026

The Full Monty

(Charity Preview Night)

Thursday 17th September

18th - 26th September - Individual Shows

4.30pm – 5.30pm

7.30pm – 8.30pm

6pm – 7pm

9pm – 10pm

#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dpopup%3Aopen%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6IjQ0MDYwIiwidG9nZ2xlIjpmYWxzZX0%3D

Pop up ticket link for event #elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dpopup%3Aopen%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6IjM4Mzk2IiwidG9nZ2xlIjpmYWxzZX0%3D

Comedy at the Barn Edinburgh Fringe Special.

Comedy at the Barn

(Edinburgh Fringe Special)

Saturday 11th July
4.30pm – 10pm

27th June - Individual Shows

4.30pm – 5.30pm

6pm – 7pm

7.30pm – 8.30pm

9pm – 10pm

Pop up ticket link for event #elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dpopup%3Aopen%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6IjM4Mzk2IiwidG9nZ2xlIjpmYWxzZX0%3D

Comedy at the Barn Edinburgh Fringe Special.

Comedy at the Barn

(Edinburgh Fringe Special)

Saturday 27th June
4pm – 9.30pm

27th June - Individual Shows

4pm – 5pm

5.30pm – 6.30pm

7pm – 8pm

8.30pm – 9.30pm