Welcome To Sleepy Hollow. Population 436. May You Never Leave!

The Headless Horseman is galloping towards York as The Legend of Sleepy Hollow plays at York Theatre Royal from 5 - 9 October as part of the Haunted Season.

Washington Irving’s story is adapted for the stage by Philip Meeks, whose play Murder Margaret and Me premiered at York Theatre Royal in 2017. Leading the cast are a pair of TV soap favourites – Wendi Peters, well remembered as Cilla Battersby-Brown in Coronation Street, and Bill Ward, who played builder Charlie Stubbs in Corrie and also did a stint in another soap Emmerdale as James Barton.

Both have a wealth of stage roles to their credit. Wendi’s appearances include Big! The Musical in the West End as well as The Game for Northern Broadsides, April in Paris for Hull Truck and White Christmas at London’s Dominion Theatre. Bill’s stage appearances include the West End production of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie – as drag queen Loco Chantelle - and before covid lockdown was touring in The Glee Club.

Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow has been adapted by Philip Meeks with illusions by Filipe J Carvalho (Back to the Future Musical; Secret Cinema presents Stranger Things).

With Hallowmas celebrations fast approaching, the residents of Sleepy Hollow spin tall tales of legends and unsightly entities. But who can tell truth from nightmare? Ichabod Crane enters an eerie world of secrets and unsettling tradition as he arrives in Sleepy Hollow to become the town teacher. While quickly finding friendship with the town patriarch and his spirited daughter, his presence is not wholly welcome.

But not all is as it seems, for Ichabod Crane harbours his own dark secret. He is not in Sleepy Hollow by chance. When disturbing events overwhelm the small town, he finds himself swept up in a dangerous mystery which leaves him doubting his own sanity.

Director Jake Smith says:
“Sleepy Hollow is undoubtedly one of the greatest horror stories ever written and a tour de force to stage. The story has at its heart the power of nomadic storytelling and gathering round the campfire for a good story. It is an important story for now as we look at conversations around the identity of nations, communities a d humankind throughout the world.”

“This production has allowed an incredible ensemble of actors to viscerally and inventively bring the Hollow to life. It is a piece that shines on our actors’ athleticism, which is really exciting as we look to theatre returning. We look forward to transporting the audience through a quest of logic and illusion, creating fear and defying expectation.”