THE story of a forgotten daughter of York will be re-told from tomorrow until Sunday in the very rooms where Anne Fairfax lived at Fairfax House in Castlegate.

York Theatre Royal Youth Theatre's site-specific performance has been commissioned to reflect the history and hidden stories of the house, as recounted by the theatre's 14 to 16 age group.

Anne's father Charles was the 9th Viscount Fairfax of Emley, the Fairfaxes being a long-established Yorkshire Catholic family, who had remained loyal to the old faith following the Reformation, during the centuries when Catholics in England were prohibited from holding public office.

The Viscount had a tragic domestic life. Married at 20, he lost his first wife within a year. His second marriage produced nine children, seven of whom died in infancy, and his wife survived barely two years after the birth of their last child.

A further daughter died aged 17, so that by 1753 only the Viscount and one remaining daughter, the deeply emotionally disturbed Anne, survived.

Anne suffered two broken engagements, and it is likely that Fairfax House was then acquired for her in 1760. Her father’s ambition was for her to raise a family, an heir for him, and live contentedly surrounded by wealth in the bustling centre of York. However, Anne’s life was to take a very different course.

"In My Father’s House gives the opportunity for an audience to delve into Georgian York and peep through the curtains of the astonishing Fairfax House," says Theatre Royal youth theatre associate Natalie Rose Quatermass.

"In order to do this effectively, our 14 to 16-year-old members have had to research all sorts of different aspects of Georgian life, such as costume, social class and etiquette. They then used this history to develop their characters through improvisation and devising, before finally applying this characterisation to the script."

This was an unusual and challenging process, says Natalie. "However, as always, our performers have breathed new life into these real-life stories with their creativity and talent. We hope that this play will give our audience a playful and informative insight into what it may have been like to wander off a dirty, noisy Georgian Street and into the epitome of ostentatious extravagance."

Natalie is directing the first two days of performances, tomorrow and Wednesday; Paula Clark, the next two on Thursday and Friday; Matt Harper, the final two days on Saturday and Sunday.

Imogen Harter-Jones will lead the cast of 19 as Anne Fairfax; other roles go to Eleanor Anderson as Sister Mathews; Olivia Bayliss, Marissa; Rebekah Burland, Mrs Bredall; Yvo Carr, Oliver; Samantha Clipston, Miss Martha Brown; Simon Ellwood, Mr Bredall; Charlotte Foreman, Mrs Greene; Jonni Somerfield, Rubella, and Benedict Harter-Jones, Brother Matthew.

Emma Harwod will play Beth; Naomi Heinen, Lady Bellasis; Jessica Hugo, Jane; Jasmin Marshall, Mary; Esther Nixon, Mrs Pyatt, Emily Richardson, Isabelle; Yasmin Sannuga, Mrs Wilson; Dominic Sorrell, Rick, and Clara Mae Williams, Polly.

The 40-minute show can be seen at 7pm, 8pm and 9pm tomorrow, Thursday and Saturday; 6pm, 7pm, 8pm, 9pm, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday. Tickets: £6, £5 under 18s, at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk or on 01904 623568.