The Crucible

A classic in the true sense of the word. Arthur Miller’s masterpiece is set during the Salem witch trials of the late 1600’s. However its depiction of hysteria and the destructive way in which a community can turn on itself gives the play a moral heart that is universal, and is also universally seen as an allegory of the anti-Communist witch hunts of the 1950’s.

Presented by - The Nonentities (A)

Location - Main House

Standard Ticket Prices

Curtain Up 7.30pm

Set in the small town of Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, the story tells how small lies - children's lies - build and build until a whole town is aroused and 19 men and women go to the gallows for being possessed of the Devil. They are good men and women, upright, hardworking, compassionate and God-fearing. The Crucible is an exciting drama about the Puritan purge of witchcraft, a gripping historical story and a timely parable of our contemporary society.

This classic play, which uses the story of the Salem Witch hunts in the 1790s is now over 50 years old but it remains fresh and relevant despite its age. It is a well loved play appearing on many college and school syllabus. Audiences never tire of revisiting the play as each ensemble production brings something new and actor enjoy trying out a new role in a show which does not have a thankless part despite the large cast.

Many of the performers in the play have been involved in the production before. When the Nonentities last performed the Crucible, Liz Cole directed her daughter in the role of Mary Warren – now the tables are turned and Viv Cole takes on the Director’s seat with her mum performer as Rebecca Nurse.

“It has been interesting to reflect with Mum about the last production – all of the issues of characterisation and setting (and dealing with a large cast of 20 characters) remain the same” said Viv Cole.

While much is made of the connections between the Salem witch hunts and the McCarthyism trials of the 1950s in America, it is possible to perform and watch the play without knowing anything about either. The characters and their dilemmas stand apart from history. It is a play which shows a society under pressure preferring to blame external sources rather than look to its own failings. It portrays blinkered authority figures, members of society prepared to destroy anything for their own ends, but it also portrays goodness and honour and those able to question their long held values and beliefs.

It is strange that such a well loved drama should take so long to become an English language film – despite French and Norwegian versions in the last 50 years, it was finally made into a film in 1996 starring Daniel Day-Lewis, and Winona Ryder.

Director’s Notes

It has been a real privilege to work on The Crucible. It is a play which despite its age still fails to date. It tells a story which is still absorbing and characters who still engage. Even Miller’s minor characters have back stories and something to offer the actor who plays them.

The Crucible is a play well known to many and is often studied in schools and colleges. Many of the actors in this production have been involved in The Crucible before. I was in the Nonentities’ last production directed by my Mum who plays Rebecca Nurse this time.

As a Director you wonder if you can bring anything new to a show which has been seen so many times. It is a play set in a particular period which can not be changed which dictates things like costume and props, so there is no scope there. In the end, all I have tried to do is work with the actors to enable their individual portrayals of the characters to combine together with each other, and to bring in sound and lighting which compliments the high drama of the performances and the script.

I have enjoyed our work on The Crucible and I hope you will enjoy the performance.

Viv