Review: Witch? Women on Trial, Fringe 2024

I wasn’t the only bloke at “Witch? Women on Trial” by Edinburgh Storytellers, which is good and slightly unexpected.

The C-bomb was slightly more unexpected. I had no idea I’d be trying a bit of Egyptian belly dancing and (badly) gyrating with the rest of the audience in an in-the-aisles dance session.

Ah, welcome to the Fringe!

In Riddle’s Court, high up with many stairs to climb, we’ve an hour that focuses on the 17th-century Witch trials in Scotland.

My gosh, I’m proud of being Scottish, but we’ve got some horribly shameful parts of our history.

“Witch? Women in Trial” is not limited to witches or the past. This show is also about the terrible way we’ve treated women.

I enjoyed my hour of history, educated opinion, and insight, but if I had been a thin-skinned bloke or focused on a single religious truth, I might not have been. If the idea that God is a woman causes you discomfort, then… well, you should still probably go to “Witch? Women on Trial” because there are some truths you need to hear.

Tone

Despite the name “Which? Women on Trial,” it felt like an informal and conversational performance or presentation.

The format has moments of acting as our storyteller leans to the side to voice a (typically male) note of discontent or challenge, pops into character to take on the role of a woman cruelly imprisoned, and, lastly, most often, the role of our educator. The latter shares facts and personal insight, blending the two with appropriate disclosure.

The fate of the women who were locked away and tortured because they might have been witches is terrible. We see a device, a horrible stabbing, too, in its vindictive physical form. We hear about men abusing their positions of power.

It’s enough to make you sick or angry, both, and it can certainly be uncomfortable. Don’t go to this Witch session expecting to find some Disney version. We get the horrible history truth.

Also, don’t expect this all to be history. The idea that women are on trial is, sadly, not consigned to history. We still have insecure men or blackhearted money-makers on social media peddling poison-tongued crap about women to make themselves feel better or fleece the vulnerable for money. This Fringe performance is about that, too.

What to expect

Let’s get the logistics out of the way first. Riddle’s Court is off the Royal Mile. Find the green archway and explore through. You will often have to wait in the open-air courtyard, so bring an umbrella. There will be a queue for the toilets.

After climbing up the spiral staircase of an old Scottish building, you’ll get a seat in one of the smallest venues in the whole Fringe. You’ll be almost within touching distance of the storyteller.

There’s some lighting but nothing that flashes, and there are some sound effects. There’s air conditioning, although in the small room, it competes for attention.

Unless you opt-out, you won’t be seated for the full hour. About two thirds through you’ll be invite to stand and dance. That lasts just a minute or two, plenty of time for me to embarrass myself, but the point was made. Dancing is ritual.

You’ll learn about King James VI of Scotland’s role in the Witch scares. He became King James I of England, the first monarch of the United Kingdom. Food for thought.

There’s a bit more history with some infamous “pickers” and some time spent further back in history with female Celtic goddesses (not that the word ‘Celtic’ was used—er, so ‘local’ goddesses).

“Witch? Women on Trial” is entertainment by lecture or education by performance. It’s not sexy, funny, or glamorous, but it is effective.

Overall

“Witch? Women on Trial” worked for me, but I hope I’m an ally. I’ve no doubt that society has mistreated women and continues to do so.

It’s disappointing and yet understandable that back in our superstitious past, we’ve mistreated women, abused the system and actually thought the mundane was the supernatural.

It’s important, but equally disappointing, to be reminded that we’re still not getting it right. The levels of sexual violence are going up, and it’s teens who are responsible for the horrible increase.