Boudica
#MeToo
In September 2017, Tristan Bernhays' Boudica premiered at Shakespeare’s Globe. While it charted the historic Iceni uprising against Rome, the play brought into focus a searing look at family dynamics shattered by state-sanctioned sexual violence. When Boudica’s daughters, Blodwynn and Alonna, are assaulted by Roman soldiers, Bernhays strips away the elevated, classical verse. He forces the actors into the blunt, ugly prose of contemporary trauma. This was not a random act of wartime chaos, but a systemic weaponisation of sexual violence—designed by the Roman state to humiliate a powerful mother by destroying her progeny.
By sheer coincidence, one month later, the global #MeToo movement went viral in the aftermath of allegations around Harvey Weinstein. As millions of women shared their own experiences of abuse, the world woke up to a reality Bernhays had just staged: sexual violence is a timeless weapon of power, and its aftermath shapes exactly who we are.
The play underlines that survivors do not process horror in a uniform way. The psychological paths the two sisters choose mirror how women today respond to physical and sexual abuse. While Blodwynn internalises the violence, lamenting that she will never feel clean again as she becomes fiercely consumed by rage and vengeance, Alonna chooses a path of radical empathy. She rejects tribalism to stand with victims across enemy lines, fighting to break the cycle of abuse. Both reactions are profoundly real, recognizable, and deeply contemporary.
Portraying this psychological devastation on stage is incredibly demanding, and it is a testament to the cast's dedication that they so fearlessly confront the emotional toll of these roles. Navigating such heavy, traumatic material in the rehearsal room requires immense trust and vulnerability. Yet, much like the #MeToo movement itself, bringing this difficult subject out of the shadows and onto the stage is vital. By refusing to look away, the production forces a necessary conversation, proving that this ancient story remains a critically important highlight of our modern reality.
Come and see the play
Production: Boudica by Tristan Bernays (Presented by Peterborough Mask Theatre)
• Dates: 10–11 & 16–18 July 2026
• Recommended for 14+ audience
• Bring a chair
• Venue: Flag Fen Archaeology Park, Peterborough PE67QJ
• Tickets: Book online via seaty.co.uk/boudicaflagfen or find Peterborough Mask Theatreon http://www.masktheatre.co.uk
