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Review from 5D writer, Maria Robertson of Witch Hunt in The Mither Kirk, Aberdeen on Saturday 28th February 2022
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Running as part of Aberdeen’s Crime Writing Festival Granite Noir was this spooky performance: Witch Hunt. Produced by Ten Feet Tall it was in the unusual location of The Mither Kirk, the Kirk of St Nicholas on the city’s main Street. This is the follow up to the last time they performed in the festival when they did a production called See You In Court which was actually staged in Aberdeen’s Sheriff Court. I was especially keen to see it as I had been a little bit involved in that one by way of providing a judicial wig from my previous employer for one of the actors to wear, unfortunately I had been unable to attend that event though.
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On entering the Kirk we were given the choice of the stalls downstairs or the gallery upstairs, it was unallocated seating and we opted for upstairs so we could look down “on the action”. On taking our seats I did wonder if we’d made a mistake being so far away from the stage but the acoustics and strong voices of the actors meant we did not regret it at all.
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This dramatisation followed the story of Janet Horne who was the last witch convicted in Scotland in the 17th century. It was a small cast: Janet, her daughter, the farming couple next door, the Minister and the local Sheriff. The stage was in the middle of the Kirk and the characters came and went with no “set” as such, just an occasional prop such as a jug of milk or the chains that bound the “wicked witch”.
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It made me think of Ailish Sinclair’s first novel The Mermaid And The Bear as there are a couple of chapters in that based around the treatment of witches in the Mither Kirk back in the days of yore. It is historical fiction based on similar stories and so it was interesting to see such a story brought to life, in the actual church where such things are believed to have taken place.
Claire Madison Mitchell QC has been leading a campaign for justice for people accused and convicted under the Witchcraft Act 1563-1736 which I have also been following the progress on, so this feels quite timely, as well as being very appropriate as part of a festival for crime stories.
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The play was well acted, with an occasional haunting song or violin tune included along the way. The actress playing Janet Horne portrayed her in a fitting way, seeming strong willed and capable of all sorts. She talked of flying like a bird, and of laying with the devil (and his “icy cold cock” – surprising language to hear in such hallowed walls). She had a way of talking to the farmer’s wife that you were not sure if she really had cursed their cows or not, and she also knew how to put the Sheriff in his place when necessary. When she was bound in chains and starved of sleep you really felt for her, so desperate to just lie down on the ground for just a moment. This was just one of the ways they tested and tortured those they believed to be witches.
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A chilling and thought provoking performance which was unfortunately just for the festival – it is unlikely that anyone attended will forget about it soon, an extraordinary experience that will stay with us all for some time.
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Further information: Granite Noir (aberdeenperformingarts.com)Ten Feet Tall Theatre – THINK. FEEL. THEATRE.The Mermaid and the Bear – Ailish SinclairHome | Witches of Scotland
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Maria Robertson is the newly anointed Chief Music & Theatre Writer for the 5D Pop Culture Website and provides reviews & coverage of local Aberdeen music & theatre gigs. She’s an experienced writer for numerous sources and is a self-confessed live gig addict ever since seeing The Counting Crows at the Barrowlands in 1994.
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