Review by Ruth Sealey
Earlier this year, I enjoyed both the atmosphere and intimate theatre space at The Glitch, so the opportunity to return for another small-scale production was an appealing one. Bringing together many of the elements I’m naturally drawn to: witches, strong feminist voices, folk music, fringe theatre, new writing and the closeness of a compact performance space, this piece immediately stood out. With so much to capture my interest, the question was whether it would truly ignite those passions or struggle to conjure the impact it promised.
I have watched the stories of witches on a couple of different stages this year, and it feels like a timely moment for theatre to amplify women’s voices, while revisiting the injustices of the witch-hunts and trials. Based on the true story of Margaret Aitken, the narrative follows her decision to collaborate with the witchfinders to save her own life. Branded a witch herself, The Witch and The Whistleblower follows the arrival of the witchfinders in a small town and Margaret’s involvement in identifying, and ultimately condemning, several of its women. In parallel, Marion Walker emerges as a local woman who stands firmly against the trials, rallying the townsfolk in resistance to the witchfinders, the church, and ultimately the authority of the king.
With book and lyrics by Roo Berry, Megan Farquhar, Lauren Foreman and Tia Ray, who also take on leading roles within the production, the team has undertaken an...
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