Circle 67 has been collaborating with the National Trust at Dunwich to bring to life the true story of one of Britain’s first conscientious objectors, Richard Clark. An employee of the Preventive Service and an occupant of one of the Coastguard Cottages at Dunwich, Richard was called to fight in the Crimean War (1853-56), but as a Quaker he held a deep religious belief that it is wrong to kill. He refused to be conscripted and was eventually imprisoned on a prison hulk. His case was pleaded in the House of Commons by John Bright MP and this campaign formed the basis of a law recognising the right of people to refuse to fight for reasons of conscience.

Conflict has been adapted by Chris Colins from a rediscovered play written by Hope Lee, a descendent of Richard Clark.

A few months ago a small group of actors from Circle 67 performed Conflict as a reading in a radio style (with sound effects) at the Coastguard Cottages to a small audience which included the family of Richard Clark.

To capture the story and bring it to a wider audience we also decided to create a recording of the play and we are delighted to make this available for you all to listen to.

Many of us involved with this project have found it to be extremely interesting and rewarding, especially with its local links -- we hope you find it just as fascinating...

Click here to listen to the play via our SoundCloud account.

Programme Notes:

CONFLICT
 by Hope Lee
Adapted by Chris Collins
Read by Circle 67 for the National Trust (Dunwich) and the family of Richard Clark.

Scenes:
A cottage on the Suffolk coast (now known as The Coastguard Cottages NT Dunwich Heath)
.
A public house near London.
The House of Commons.
Justice Robinson's study.
Manchester Town Hall.

Time: 1854.

Characters and Cast:
Richard Clark - a seaman in the Preventive Service. A big, dour, silent man. (Performed by Bernard Fox)
Isabella Clark - his wife, of Scottish Covenant descent. (Emily Walpole)
Polly Clark - his daughter, about 8 years old. (Emily Walpole)
William Clark - his son, about 12 years old. (Mitchell Pocock)
Jamie McDowell - also in the Preventive Service (Mitchell Pocock)
Justice Robinson - (Frank Boyd)
John Bright - An MP firmly against the Crimean War. (Chris Collins)
Parson - (Rob Buxton)
Elizabeth Salter - a Quaker (Rosie Josling)
Belle - a landlady (Rosie Josling)
Dandy - an officer in the Army (Frank Boyd)
Old Man - (Chris Collins)
Newspaper Boy - (Mitchell Pocock)
Maid - (Emily Walpole)
Government Officer - (Frank Boyd)
Manchester Voice 1 - (Rob Buxton)
Manchester Voice 2 - (Bernard Fox)

Production:
Sound Technician - George Harvey
Editing and Sound Design - Mitchell Pocock
Original Music - Bernard Fox
Director and Producer -Steve Chadwick