A year ago the Red Rose Chain Theatre in Ipswich was preparing to unveil its new play about Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins who terrorised East Anglia in the 1640s.

Now the play, The Ungodly, is returning to The Avenue Theatre in Ipswich before heading off to London and New York.

The play was written by Red Rose Chain artistic director Joanna Carrick and was premiered at its Avenue Theatre in Ipswich last autumn.

Jo Carrick Red Rose Chain Theatre artistic director (Image: Paul Geater)

It features the Witchfinder General's visit to a small community in north Essex - Hopkins was born in Great Wenham near Ipswich and brought up near Mistley and his reign of terror mainly existed across East Anglia.

The Ungodly has many parallels with life today as people struggle to find the truth in many political arguments.

It is back at The Avenue Theatre in Ipswich until October 19 and from October 23 it has a three-week run at the Southwark Playhouse in London.

Then early next year it is due to spend several weeks at an Off Broadway venue in New York.

Ms Carrick said she was delighted by the show's success - it has gained great reviews and featured in many articles in national publications.

She said: "What strikes many people is just how relevant it is to us today - the story may be set centuries ago but the arguments about what is truth apply today just as much.

"Last year we played  to full houses here and ticket sales are doing very  well again - and they're also selling well in London and for productions there tickets tend to sell very close to the day so it's looking very good."

Details of the trip to New York will be announced later, but Ms Carrick said everyone associated with the production - and the cast is the same as last year - felt it was something really special for the Red Rose Chain Theatre.