Glitch gains national tour: funding for Post Office scandal play

Reading-based RABBLE Theatre is preparing to take its acclaimed play Glitch – The True Story of the Post Office Scandal on a national tour.

Written by Zannah Kearns and directed by Gareth Taylor, the play was developed in Reading with the help of sub-postmistresses affected by the Horizon IT scandal, legal figures involved in the case.

Also helping out with Glitch was the University of Reading, who commissioned the project.

Glitch tells the story of Pam Stubbs, who became a key witness in one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in British legal history. She was Subpostmaster at the Barkham Post Office for 10 years after her husband’s death.

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The premiere of Glitch last year enjoyed full houses, and RABBLE is now planning to bring the work to a wider audience, thanks to £85,000 grant from Arts Council England.

Toby Davies, Artistic Director of RABBLE Theatre, said: “RABBLE tells local stories of national significance.

“To be able to share Pam’s inspirational story of perseverance and bravery to a national audience is brilliant and we’re grateful to ACE for enabling us to do so at this moment in time.”

Hazel Edwards, South East Area Director at Arts Council England, added: “Our investment of £85,000 into RABBLE Theatre’s Glitch – The True Story of the Post Office Scandal will enable this pertinent production to tour nationally, reaching audiences far beyond its original home in Reading.

“Touring will bring high-quality, socially resonant theatre to new regions, boosting local venues and engaging diverse communities.

“This funding, made possible thanks to players of The National Lottery, affirms the power of the arts to educate, provoke and inspire change.”

Investigative journalist Nick Wallis, who has been instrumental in uncovering the scandal, praised the production after seeing it in Reading last year.

He said: “Go and see this piece of theatre. It has a visceral effect that is very, very powerful.”

Full details of the tour will be announced soon.

More information about the project can be found at rabbletheatre.com/glitch.