Sub-postmistress and her miscarriage of justice

RABBLE Theatre’s moving play about Barkham sub-postmistress Pam Stubbs and how she was caught up in a national miscarriage of justice is coming to the Kenton Theatre.

Written by Zannah Kearns, based on an original concept by Elizabeth Conaghan and directed by Gareth Taylor, Glitch — The True Story of the Post Office Scandal tells how Pam, who kept meticulous records at her sub post office and repeatedly communicated her concerns about the Horizon software system used to her bosses, was up against their beliefs and stance that computers could not make errors.

From the minute the system was installed, she experienced power outages and system crashes, creating accounting discrepancies which appeared as financial losses. Despite her openness and insistence that the Post Office investigate, repeatedly reporting on the Horizon misbalances and keeping all her till receipts, she faced threats of prosecution.

Joanne Howarth will be playing Pam Stubbs, with Sabina Netherclift as Kay Linnell, Swift, Hilary and others.

Laura Penneycard will be playing Nora, Tracey, Jan and the Judge, while Naveed Khan will be playing David, Daljit, Green and Sir Alan Bates.

From 1999 to 2015, the Post Office prosecuted around
900 sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses, based on the faulty data provided by Horizon software. Many faced jail and financial ruin, with several people taking their own lives.

The miscarriage of justice was brought to the wider attention of the general public with the broadcast of the ITV drama Alan Bates vs The Post Office, which was aired in January 2024.

Dramaturgy is by Beth Flintoff, with sound and music composition by Benjamin Hudson, lighting design by Oliver Welsh and set and costume design by Caitlin Abbot.

RABBLE Theatre presents Glitch — The True Story of the Post Office Scandal at the Kenton Theatre on Tuesday, March 24 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £26.75 adults, £22.75 students. For more information, call the box office on (01491) 52505 or visit thekenton.org.uk