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Play to dramatise the tale of Lurgan woman Marjorie McCall who 'lived once was buried twice'

"We wish to bring high-quality storytelling back to rural communities to inspire and to educate"

"They really should have checked that she was dead."

A new play is set to look at the mysterious history of the Lurgan woman who 'died once' and was 'buried twice'.

Dark Forest Theatre is preparing to debut its latest original production 'Marjorie’s Dead' this month, dramatising the story of Marjorie McCall was buried in Shankill graveyard in Lurgan in 1705.

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The play will be performed in Lurgan Town Hall on October 19 and 20 and will be followed by a performance at Brownlow Castle on October 25 - just in time for the spooky season.

Marjorie’s Dead is funded by the Lurgan Heritage Scheme and the National Lottery and came to life due to the desire to keep local stories alive and to reignite interest in the history of Northern Ireland.

Dark Forest Theatre said: "Married to John McCall, a young doctor, Majorie's sudden illness and death had him deep in grief, as even with the knowledge of his trade, he was not able to save her.

"He mourned the loss of his young wife and had her waked and buried. Buried with a rather large and valuable wedding ring.

"Yet not all mourned her loss, some saw it as a rather lucrative situation. The night of her burial, when all was quiet in the graveyard, two grave robbers knew that business was afoot.

"So they dug her back up, wanting the ring and even her cadaver to make themselves money. The opened her coffin and began to cut off her swollen finger."

They added: "We wish to bring high-quality storytelling back to rural communities to inspire and to educate."

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To find out more about Marjorie’s Dead and how to get tickets, see here

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