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Glib musical of witch trials fails the accused

The Guardian

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November 14, 2025

Rebecca Brewer and Daisy Chute's musical, inspired by the Pendle witch trials of the 17th century, clearly seeks to turn the accused women from footnotes in history to flesh and blood beings, outrageously wronged and relaying their own stories.

- Arifa Akbar

Glib musical of witch trials fails the accused

A group of Lancashire women are awaiting their fates behind bars: the church-going Frances (Shiloh Coke) whose husband is her accuser and who has suffered child loss; heavily pregnant Rose (Lauryn Redding); Maggie (Jacinta Whyte), who makes medicine from herbs; and Nell (Allyson Ava-Brown), a midwife or maid to Frances.

The drama kicks off with a newly deposited prisoner, Jenet (Gabrielle Brooks), famed for testifying against her family for witchcraft as a child, who is now also accused.

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