A Coventry theatre company will host one of its most ambitious shows ever when it brings a raucous, history-inspired tale to a 700-year-old city centre venue.

Unholy Trinity, an original production from city centre-based EGO Arts, will see audiences transported to Tudor Coventry for an evening of scandal, celebration and dark comedy - all unfolding within the atmospheric surroundings of St Mary’s Guildhall.

The show, which draws on real historical records and has been devised entirely by the 19 Coventry based actors set to star in it, will run Thursday, Friday and Saturday on October 10th to 12th and 17th to 19th.

EGO Arts, which champions inclusivity in the arts, has been running for 18 years and has a track record of sell-out site-specific shows including Pirates of the Canal Basin (2022), Agatha Christmas at the Old Blue Coat School (2022) and Mortal at London Road Cemetery (2023).

EGO’s latest tale, written over a six-month period after visiting the Guildhall to uncover its fascinating Tudor history, begins one evening in October 1548, as Coventry man Whitfield Saunders prepares to take on the role of Lord Mayor.

Making use of multiple spaces at the guildhall, from the atmospheric undercroft where guests are invited to congregate before heading to the main performance in the Great Hall, preparations for a lavish mayoral celebration soon spiral out of control.

A band of minstrels mock Saunders’s every move as he attempts to salvage his reputation - just as the nation’s greatest powers converge on Coventry, sending Saunders, and the city, into a spin.

Francis Stojsavljevic, who plays Whitfield Saunders, said the production is the culmination of a 12-month process, from research and writing to rehearsals.

“The show is designed to be bold and unpredictable, with lots of engaging dialogue and twists and turns,” he said. “We have taken inspiration from the fantastic setting that the Guildhall provides, as well as delving into historical archives to give us an idea of the types of things that could have happened in 16th Century Coventry - including its royal connections.

“We are extremely excited to be bringing this to audiences in October. So much work has gone into making it the best show possible; from our in-house costume and production teams through to our performers, and we are thrilled to be bringing it to life in partnership with St Mary’s Guildhall.”

The show will begin in the courtyard before guests are guided through the kitchen and up to the great hall, which is accessible by stairs and lift. Audiences will be required to stand for these first two sections, lasting around 10 minutes in total, and will be seated in the great hall for the remainder of the show. 

Niamh Carton, Community Engagement Manager at St Mary’s Guildhall, said: “Our collaborations with the incredible organisations in our community always lead to some memorable results, and Unholy Trinity is no different.

“EGO Arts have created a fantastic production to their usual high standards taking inspiration from real Coventry history, and we are looking forward to sharing that with audiences later this year.”

Unholy Trinity is produced by EGO Arts with funding from Arts Council England and Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. It is supported by the St Mary’s Guildhall Community Engagement Programme with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.

Image by Andrew Moore