Drama Students Travel to Mercury Theatre for ‘The Manningtree Witches’

Drama students travelled to Colchester’s Mercury Theatre last Friday, to watch The Manningtree Witches; a thrilling world premiere that tells the true story of England’s first Witchfinder General, and wrenches the women he killed out from the shadows of history and into the spotlight.

Adapted by award-winning Mercury Playwright and screenwriter Ava Pickett and directed by Natasha Rickman, this gripping historical drama is a fiercely modern exploration of fear, control, and what happens when women’s voices are silenced.

Find out more about the play from Year 10’s Henry.

“The Manningtree Witches at Colchester’s Mercury Theatre is a compelling historic production set in the 17th century. The characters of Rebecca West and Matthew Hopkins elevate the experience bringing the 17th Century into the 21st.

I really enjoyed the switching between the atmospheres of eeriness and witchcraft to satirical comedy which brought a laugh to the crowd, including mentions of various Essex and Suffolk towns. Rebecca acted as narrator, switching between past and future in an awe-inspiring way. This, along with the onstage ‘fog’, brought a constant sense of mystery.

The lighting and sound effects added to the tension, especially the big flood lights behind the actors, which brought maximum impact and allowed this play to have a ‘wow’ factor. I thoroughly enjoyed this production and I know my peers did too.”