A Tryal Of Witches ….
Not the Witches of Eastwick but the Witches of Bury St Edmunds (Cromwellian era ) based on true events as WitchFinder General Mathews Hopkins hunts down his prey in 1664.
The production is an all female cast with many playing dual roles- the stand outs were the 2 older members of the cast -Claire Storey – as Anne Alderman locally famed for herbal remedies & Lucy Tuck who plays the Reverend John Lowes and Nathaniel. I found the narrative over extended and a little repetitive in parts. I would have preferred Emily Hindle who played brilliantly Rosie, the Ale House Keeper as well as the Witchfinder General, for the latter to have been portrayed by dare I say it, a man ( or another female actor) as it lacked gravitas and grievous conviction.
However, the play engaged an interesting set of themes – including convictions based on spectral evidence and women’s’ place in society as well as an absorbing echoing audio chorus between scenes as the ensemble changed on stage. The performance was delivered with verve to a full house.
https://visit-burystedmunds.co.uk/blog/the-largest-witch-trial-in-english-history
Friday – 21st March Fawkes & S – Bury St Edmunds -Theatre Royal
Tryal Of Witches by Tallulah Brown
Posted by: Fawkes