In Scotland, the Kirk outlawed witchcraft as devil-worshipping heretics in 1563 and 1,500 people were executed. The last "witch" to be executed was Janet Horne in 1727. Sentenced to death by burning, she was stripped, covered in tar and paraded through Dornoch in a barrel after being accused of having a pact with the devil.
The 18th Century was a period of progress in technology, philosophical frustration, scientific unearthing and astonishing creativeness. The gruesome and tragic story of Janet Horne, with the conflict of reason and superstition at its centre, is fitting in this year's Edinburgh International Festival with its theme of the Enlightenment and the flowering of arts and science of which the city of Edinburgh was such an important part.
The Last Witch is a specially commissioned co-production by the EIF and the Traverse, which usually hosts some of the strongest Fringe line-ups, and is written by the award-winning Rona
Munro (who also wrote for Doctor Who in the 80s, fact fans).
Directing is last year's Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland winner for best director, Dominic Hill (for Peer Gynt) and a stellar Scottish cast has been signed up, with Kathryn Howden taking the lead.
Munro's play explores the psychosomatic apertures that can segregate communities and families, while illustrating spiralling fear of impending destruction in a small village. Considering Munro's typical style, with her authorial voice obliquely coming through in a darkly questioning way, it promises to dramatise our curiosity about what drives people to commit crimes.
This World Premiere brings together all the ingredients needed to impress international audiences with a local production: Scottish talent, in a historical story, in the year of Homecoming, but refusing to rely on the twee or sentimentality by tackling a tale which has a gruesome core and will hopefully challenge its audiences.
At the Traverse Theatre, Sunday 23 - Saturday 29 August (7.30pm) Thursday 27
& Saturday 29 Aug (2.30pm)
Tickets and info available from
Edinburgh International Festival
© Lindsay Corr - July 2009