The Witching Hour is a ghost story about a haunted woodland house. It turns the theme of The Blair Witch Project on its head, showing patriarchal oppression as the real monster. I went to see the play at Bridewell Theatre earlier this week and found it suitably scary. At points I genuinely jumped out of my seat. It has a great set and is well acted, but what I liked most is the way it tackles the theme of witchcraft accusations
The setting is Torhill Wood, a remote spot in the English countryside with a history of paranormal sightings and missing persons. Twenty-first century psychologist Erin Bailey goes on a research trip to uncover the plight of Elspeth Langford, a young woman from the 1600s. Central to Elspeth’s story is the moment she is tried and killed for being a witch, a scene spectrally re-enacted at the time mentioned in the title. As the press release explains: "Erin and [brother] Sam soon realise their trip to these eerie woods will not pass without their fair share of witchcraft – and murder. Their trip will become a haunting fight for survival."
Why I think modern witches will like The Witching Hour is that it shows how problems prevalent in today’s society reflect those in the historic times of England’s witch trials. Themes include feminism, disbelieved and forgotten women, torture, familial abuse, sexual assault, and bias against certain groups within the justice system.
The Witching Hour is on until Saturday 20 July at Bridewell Theatre, 14 Bride Lane, London EC4Y 8EQ. There's an evening performances on Thursday, with two performances on Friday and Saturday. Tickets are £22.50-£29.50 https://www.thewitchinghourlive.com/
Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2022/03/pagan-eye-plaque-to-those-accused-of.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2014/10/pagan-eye-witches-wicked-bodies.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2014/10/review-penguin-book-of-witches.html
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