Sabbat

Sabbat centres around the true story of the Pendle Witches. Writer Richard Shannon commemorates the 400th anniversary of when the trails were held. Lots has been written about this but he focuses on Roger Nowell the Pendle magistrate and how it affects him and his wife. Some characters are real including the famous Alice Nutter portrayed in the cast of four.

Entering the Forge studio, we are met with a stark room with bark on the floor and a large pentagram shape made by forming the pattern in the bark.  During the play the cast take turns to sweep the bark into the shape of a cross. Hung from the ceiling three sides were branches with herbs and twigs hanging down. And then one on the back wall. Hanging from the centre looms a hangman’s noose. A light smoke hangs eerily around the auditorium adding to the atmosphere of what is to come. The cast bring on a table with candle, jugs, bowls, cups and bottles to one side and a stark wooden chair and stool at the side. A broomstick leans up against the wall. Then a desk and chair are brought on for another scene - all this is done while singing unaccompanied with lovely harmonies. Set Design and Construction Simon Mott and Helen Livesey. Props were frugal and used well with the poppets being particularly disturbing as should be. Props by Jade Mulraney. Stage Manager Emily Hill. Lighting was used to full effect to create the right atmosphere and a gobo for the cell bars. Lighting by John Lyon and Peter Gower. Sound worked with the crackling of the fire and the birds. Sound by Janice Lyon. The costumes all looked to fit the characters with the Magistrate and his wife being in conservative colours and the wife’s baby bump being believable. The young girl suitable unkempt and dirty to fit her character. Alice Nutter is the only one in not in a muted colour with her blue representing heavenly wisdom. Costumes by Janet Hardman.

Simon Mott directs Sabbat and it says in the program notes he has directed this play before. You can tell he had a strong vision for the play and it is no mean feat for a cast of four to keep the narrative going and energy up. The writer has chosen only four characters to tell this story and by using the vitality of a young child it helps switch the energy and dynamics in the plot. The use of the women singing eerily as they enter to do the scene changes keeps the atmosphere charged. Sabbat - a wican festival or a historical gathering of witches.

Roger Nowell the magistrate is played by Mark Weatherall. We start by seeing him looking forward to welcoming a child with his second wife. He makes the comment he has many babies buried as well as a wife. When his wife miscarries it’s almost that he looks for people to blame. We witness a man possessed and tormented by his own thoughts. Blinded by what is in front of him, he is unable to see the truth. Is it jealousy of a rich woman or his contempt of women in general? Mark plays the part of the man who is ready to listen to the rambling of a young girl. The scene in the cell with Alice was powerful and we see a small glimpse of his weakness. His wife Judith Nowell played by Rebecca Carney is a real-life character and it was her father who was the magistrate. This story has her pregnant and having a still born adding to fuel the fire against witches, as her good friend Alice tends to her. Rebecca played the character torn between her husband and friend well - her angst-driven dilemma was clear. She appeals to Roger he does apologies but unfortunately that doesn’t stop his quest to search out witches.

Catherine Cropper takes on the role of Jennet Device. Catherine brings a completely different energy to the piece which helps shade it. Her visions and storytelling of seeing things, with a sinister way about her in movement and speech. I got to thinking where does evil stop and madness begin. Today she would be treated for some kind of psychosis. The enjoyment of naming an innocent person and believing she will be saved was overwhelming, with touches of the play The Crucible she goes on to name many in the village, sending them to death.

Alice Nutter played by Caroline Weeks only wanting to help people and is best friends with Judith, inadvertently gets caught up in the whole ‘who is a witch?’ thing. As I said before strong scene in the cell when Roger tries to get her to confess to being a witch. Sticking to her guns she denies it and actually tries help Jennet at the beginning and it is heart-wrenching to watch. Caroline gave a great character portrayal of this and pitched it just right with her different relationships to the other characters.

Plays that make you think and question things must make the playwright happy. I was raging at the injustice Jennet caused and the way Roger dealt with it: his comment about weak women revealing his misogyny and how he treated his wife, causing an injustice with the goodness of a woman misinterpreted as evil. All this by a cast of four - a powerful play. Thank you for the invite and hospitality from my guest Matthew and I.

Liz Hume-Dawson

District 5 rep

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