The Crucible

Here is some more background about The Crucible and director Libby Harding's vision for the cast and production:

 

The Crucible is set in the late 17th century and is a partially fictionalised tale about the Salem Witch Trials. Miller wrote the play during the 1950’s as a commentary on the increasing persecution under McCarthyism in the American government. This is outlined within narration at the beginning of each act, however we would not look to include the original narration in the play.

​

The play centres on the accusations of Abigail Williams, a young woman in the town, and the subsequent escalation and hysteria as the community begins to turn on each other. John Proctor and his wife Elizabeth act as a moral compass for the audience. They are particularly targeted by Abigail, as it is revealed that she had an affair with John Proctor but was ultimately rebuffed.

​

By using St Mary’s Parish Church as a performance venue, the time of year the show will be performed and the subject matter, this will be particularly atmospheric given that religion and anti-‘Satanism’ is a main driver behind the witch hunt. We would further enhance this by using a minimal set, replicating the sparse nature of furnishings on the 1690's.

​

Although the play is set during the 1690s, I am not precious about costuming being accurate. Women would wear long skirts and blouses; men would wear wool trousers and shirts. I’d like the fabrics and colours to be muted and plain. As with the set, I would anticipate that we have a quite a lot already available to us in the costume store, but that anything required would be easily sourced by the cast.

​

Given the starkness of the set and the costuming, I would like to use lighting as much as possible to add another dimension to the scenes being played out. The script is pretty ‘straight’ so by adding lighting and using sound effects, particularly in between scene transitions, we will increase the tension and sense of discomfort.

​

There are a good mix of characters, varying in size, age and sex. The age of John Proctor and his wife can be flexible. Similarly, I don’t have a fixed age in mind for Abigail, although whoever is cast would likely need a playing age of late teen-mid 20s. All parts have lines. Although the play is technically set in America, I would not expect American accents from the cast. 

 

I would also like to include a few more young girls to take part in some of the scenes of ‘hysteria’.

They wouldn’t have ‘set lines’ but they would be active on stage. I am keen on the idea of the girls all talking and moving in sync in the moments when they are possessed.

​

​