Katherine Sutton

Katherine of Sutton, Abbess of Barking (fl. 1358–1376) was a Benedictine nun and is thought to be England's first female playwright.

Biography As Barking Abbey only accepted women of noble birth, it is almost certain that Katherine was born into nobility. Her position as Abbess of Barking would have ranked her equivalent to a Baroness in medieval English aristocracy.

Katherine held office from 1358 to 1376, during the peak of Barking Abbey’s existence. When she became the abbess of Barking Abbey in 1358, she inherited a very powerful position of authority and publicity. As the abbess, she was responsible for both the political and theological affairs of the convent. She was also responsible for the safety and well-being of all nuns in her convent, in addition to leading and planning the liturgical ceremonies. Typically in English convents, the nun of the highest ranking was considered the supreme authority and had the most responsibility. Specifically, the abbess was required to provide goods and services for royal wars, as well as housing criminals until trial. The preface the dramas states that Katherine rearranged plays so that the Descensus and Elevatio were performed after the third responsory of Matins, instead of before Matins, when had traditionally taken place 'according to ancient ecclesiastic custom'. The preface states further that she did this in order to eliminate growing 'human sluggishness' and slack devotion among the people.

There were four plays in all: Depositio, Descensus, Elevatio, and Visitatio Sepulchri.

Depositio The first of the four plays, Depositio, was celebrated on Good Friday. In this play, two priests representing Joseph and Nicodemus take down a sculpture of Christ from the cross above the altar, while singing an antiphon. They then wash its wounds in wine and water. This washing has not been seen in other liturgical dramas. They represent the souls of the holy fathers in Hell. The officiating priest together with two deacons walk to the door of this chapel and sing the antiphon Tollite portas (tear down your gates). They then reslease the 'souls' from the chapel and process through the choir.

Elevatio The Elevatio follows directly on from the Descensus. It represent's Christ's resurrection. In the Barking version, the officiating priest enters the 'tomb' and takes out what the text calls 'the Lord's body in a glass', which he holds before the congregation while singing the antiphon Christ is risen. This body in glass is probably a host in a monstrance. The plays are also important in that they feature nuns playing male characters.