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It is 1777 and the American War of Independence it at its height.   Dick Dudgeon is the black sheep in a self-righteous Puritan family.   He is the 'Devil's Disciple'.   However, when he becomes trapped in the house of a rebel leader, he is mistaken for a Presbyterian minister and is arrested by the British.   Dick Dudgeon is headed for the gallows, so will this black sheep become a hero?

The Devil's Disciple is Shaw's version of the classic Victorian melodrama.   Like other melodrama's it is based around naive characters in exaggerated situations, and has a plot centred on the battle between good and evil.   However, Shaw cleverly twists this simple recipe to his own ends, producing a great deal more depth and meaning than many of its contemporaries.

Born in Dublin in 1865, George Bernard Shaw was deeply interested in the concepts of socialism and studied the works of Karl Marx.   He saw his plays as a way to challenge the accepted conventions and morals of his time, with a view to changing the world for the better.

Twyford and Ruscombe Theatre Groups production of the Devil's Disciple brought this famous play to the stage in Loddon Hall, Twyford.   With it's period costumes and gripping storyline, this was a unique opportunity to experience the extraordinary talents of Bernard Shaw as a playwright.


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