Spy-turned-author Aphra Behn (1640–1689) is a Canterbury jewel. Born in Harbledown, little is known about her early life until (after the spying) she conquered the London stage with a succession of resoundingly successful plays, in collaboration with the greatest composers of the day – John Blow and Henry Purcell, among others.

This evening allows us to get to know her a little better – in her own words, brought to life by Miriam Dooley as Aphra, alongside some of the country’s foremost Baroque specialist singers and instrumentalists. Her mortal remains lie in Westminster Abbey; this evening brings her extraordinary talent a little closer to home.

Actor, writer and director, Miriam is a co-director of the award-winning theatre company Play on Words and has worked as a lecturer for Canterbury Christ Church University in Performing Arts and Musical Theatre since 2006.

Presented by the Aphra Behn Society in association with Canterbury Festival and Canterbury Christ Church University

Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), part of UK Research and Innovation.