‘The Siege of Bridgwater’ was written by Brian Smedley and staged at the Bridgwater Arts Centre in April 1987. It was performed by Sheep Worrying Theatre and was the second in the ‘Socialist History’ plays series.

siege of bridgwater
Smedley and Coram in Siege of Bridgwater behind Claire Johns

‘Siege of Bridgwater’ was filmed and a recording still survives. it was the first full Sheep Worrying Show to be filmed.

The cast includes Matt Bartlett in the lead role as a Leveller activist, Steve Coram as Sir Edmund Wyndham, arch Royalist and a strong supporting cast including  Gareth Beasley as the Bishop of Bath and Wells, Ronnie Dyer as Lady Wyndham, Steve Kedge as a particularly nasty Royalist commander, Gary Wilmot as a Polden clubman, Viv Evans and Claire John as ladies in waiting, Kevin Freeman, Nick Henstridge and Jeremy Gardner as Royalist soldiers, Dickie Pyne as Lord Stawell and Brian Smedley as Mr Harvey.

Dale Bruton, Chris Roberts and Dave Hanna play the Puritons while Kate Osborne and Angie Denton play youthful lead roles.