Community Actors/Readers required for Putney Debates 2026 – Rebellion, a reading based on the Putney Debates of 1647.
This project is supported by the Wandsworth Community Heritage Fund, and will be presented in the very place where the Putney Debates were held in 1647 - a unique moment in the development of democracy and a free society.
The aim is to look at how the spirit of the 1647 Putney Debates can inspire us to engage, stand up and speak up in 2026 and to ask: what can we learn today from the struggle for freedom in 1647?
Rehearsals
Two rehearsals in November - exact dates to be confirmed.
Performance
Venue – St Mary’s Church, Putney, Putney High St, London SW15 1SN
Date – 29/11/2026
Time – Readers to arrive by 2pm, performance (followed by a discussion with the audience) 3pm-5pm (participation in discussion optional)
Honorarium/Expenses
£50 available per reader/actor. This opportunity would be ideal for students or non-professional actors interested in history and new writing.
Profile of characters/speakers
The characters in this reading fall into the following categories:
- Radicals: favouring the abolition of the monarchy and universal male suffrage
- Traditionalists: wanting to preserve the monarchy and House of Lords, and voting rights limited to owners of property
- Moderate traditionalists: proposing a compromise between Radicals and Traditionalists
- Chorus/Speaker of the Petition of Divers Women - someone representing those excluded from the debates: anyone not white and male.
- Age range - as a rough / loose / not strict guideline 30-50.
Edward Sexby
Trooper (private soldier) in the horse regiment of General Thomas Fairfax, and Agitator- elected by the ordinary soldiers of the New Model Army to represent them and speak for them. (Radical)
Oliver Cromwell
Lieutenant-General in the New Model Army and chairman of the General Council of the Army (Chairman of the Debates, Traditionalist)
Henry Ireton
Commissary-General in the New Model Army - second-in-command of the army's cavalry under Fairfax and Cromwell (Traditionalist)
John Wildman
Leveller, speaking for the ordinary people of the nation (Radical)
Thomas Rainborough
Colonel, commanding a regiment of foot in the New Model Army (Radical)
Below are parts to be divided between two readers. If possible, one playing Radicals, one playing Traditionalists:
Radicals
· Bedfordshire Man – Trooper and New Agent of Colonel Whalley’s regiment
· Maximillian Petty – Civilian, Leveller, standing for the native rights and liberties of the people
· John Merriman – Captain in the New Model Army, Agitator
· William Rainborough – Major, New Model Army
· Edmund Chillenden – Lieutenant, New Model Army, Agitator
· William Allen – Ordinary Soldier, Agitator
· Lewis Audley – Captain, New Model Army, Agitator
· Edmund Rolfe – Captain in the New Model Army, Agitator
· John Clarke – Captain in the New Model Army, Agitator
· Thomas Reade – Lieutenant-Colonel, New Model Army, Agitator
· An Agitator unnamed
· Robert Tichborne – Colonel, New Model Army, Lieutenant of the Tower
· George Bishop – Captain in the New Model Army, Agitator
Traditionalists
· Nathaniel Rich – Colonel in the New Model Army (Traditionalist)
· William Goffe – Lieutenant-Colonel in the New Model Army (Moderate/Traditionalist)
· Hugh Peter – Preacher, (Moderate/Traditionalist)
· Sir Hardress Waller – Colonel, New Model Army (Traditionalist)
· John Hewson – Colonel, New Model Army (Traditionalist)
Chorus / speaker of the petition of divers women
Standing for those unrepresented and unrecognised at the 1647 Putney Debates, this reader is also to read the Humble Petition of divers women, calling for the release of political prisoners in 1648/9.
Get involved
- Contact Nick Eisen by email on eisen.nick@gmail.com (Subject - Putney Debates reading)
- Or text to 07434 711119 (no phone calls please)
- Please give contact details and a bit about yourself, any experience, availability and what interests you about this project.