September 5, 2026
After a good lunch with Tony Arlidge in Birmingham 2013, the idea of converting Court no 1 into a theatre for a few evenings each year was conceived. The then Recorder HH Peter Beaumont KC was enlightened enough to approve the project. The present Recorder HH Judge Mark Lucraft KC provides us with strong support.
The first production in 2014 was directed by Tony who was then succeeded by Riel Karmy- Jones KC. This March the 12th production was staged to full houses (140) for 6 nights raising approximately £67,000 for a variety of excellent causes – the Sheriff’s and Recorder’s Fund ( the re-habilitation of offenders leaving prison) , the School Consent Project ( educating 6th formers about the meaning of genuine consent) and MamaSuze( supporting women who are survivors of human trafficking, forced displacement or gender-based violence ( which includes rape, domestic abuse, FGM and forced marriage.)
The show has gone from strength to strength. After drinks in the Grand Hall, it lasts about 90 minutes with a series of vignettes and songs about cases about the criminal justice system generally with some chosen from the Old Bailey’s rich history during the last 400 years. An additional frisson is added with some of the cases having taken place during Court no 1’s heyday during the C20. Actors and singers ( often members of the Bar, but spiced up with a few professionals ) speak from the very same witness box as where the evidence was originally given. Judges ( often played by judges) intervene grumpily from the very same Bench where they used to grump. The music is directed by Colin Sell who is masterful in his witty wordsmithery as he refines the lyrics of contemporary songs. This years’ songs included ‘ The Time Warp’ and ‘There may be trouble ahead.’,
Each year the material is almost entirely fresh with a new theme. This year we chose Justice? , Trial and Error exploring past miscarriages of justice, not only in the sense of wrongful convictions but also by choosing cases which led to unjust results because of contemporary law and/or values. We started with the trials of Sir Walter Raleigh. Surely a political fix? We re-visited Ruth Ellis and saw how the appalling domestic violence she suffered at the hands of David Blakely did not even come near to providing her with a partial defence to murder at that time.
The horrors and inequities of the past were exposed. An early drag artist, Princess Seraphima, who strutted ‘her’ stuff at Vauxhall Gardens in the 1730’s, has ‘her’ credibility as a complainant alleging theft destroyed by the uncontrolled misuse of evidence about ‘her’ sexuality. Inspired by Sir Chris Bryant’s excellent book James and John, we told the story of a callous Recorder of London, desperate to have some hangings on his watch, whose actions and inactions led to the execution of 2 men in the 1830’s for having consensual sex. We saw the case of Marguerite Fahmy, on trial for shooting her Egyptian husband at the Savoy Hotel, whose counsel Sir Marshall Hall KC unashamedly deploys racist advocacy playing to contemporary prejudices so as to distort the trial process. Maude Hibbert, the vulnerable survivor of a suicide pact, brought about by an overbearing partner, is fortunate to escape being tried for murder, a decision, which incurs the then Lord Chief Justice’s wrath.
Notwithstanding the grim nature of some of the vignettes, there is plenty of humour. The show ends with a light-hearted take on the trials of Jeffrey Archer with a mixed
reaction from the judges to the secret weapon of Mary Archer’s infamous fragrance. Archer, played by David Etherington KC, wins his libel action only later to find a criminal jury rather less sympathetic. Bill Clinton, whose own testimony on matters sexual matters has left much to be desired, drops into the Old Bailey admiring British justice increasing the irony. The show ends with the whole troupe singing “Lie, Lie under Oath’, beautifully crafted by Colin, sung to the music of “Bye Bye Blackbird.”
Red Lion Chambers plays a critical role. Not only has it provided Directors and Actors, it also makes a significant contribution towards the hire of the lighting equipment for the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. The lighting is, of course, crucial. This generous seed money enabling growth into a strong flowering tree providing help to so many. Thank you.
Many of the ideas for vignettes come from OldBailey online which is a gold mine of material covering over 200 years of Old Bailey cases. Others come from members of the audience, friends, Bench and Bar. Please feel free to send me any ideas at trialanderrorevents@gmail.com
Written by HH Peter Rook KC
Deviser, producer and usher of Trial & Error 2014-present
Former Head of Red Lion Chambers from 2003 – 2005