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New theatre production W.I.T.C.H. about legacy of famous feminist activists who marched down Wall Street, New York to be trialled at Lyth Arts Centre this weekend


By Kyle Walker


A NEW in-progress production drawing inspiration from last year’s 50th anniversary of a famous group of feminist activists will be casting its spell on Lyth Arts Centre on Friday.

Written by Louise Oliver and Shilpa T-Hyland, new theatre W.I.T.C.H. has spent the week in residence at the Caithness cultural hub.

And the area’s arts fans will get a chance to see the fruits of that residence when the in production has its first ever performance on Friday night.

The show is centred around a group of women in 2019 Scotland who gather on the evening of a political march to drink wine, share stories and figure out their place in the world – drawing on the enduring influences of the titular W.I.T.C.H.

Formed on Halloween 1968 by a group of second wave feminists in New York, the Women’s International Terrorist Conspiracy from Hell led a campaign against what they saw as the patriarchal dominance of society.

W.I.T.C.H. previews at Lyth Arts Centre on Friday night.
W.I.T.C.H. previews at Lyth Arts Centre on Friday night.

Famously this included the group dressing as witches on that inaugural Halloween, and marching down Wall Street in order to place a “hex” on the city’s financial district.

Speaking about the production, Lyth Arts Centre co-director Charlotte Mountford said: “'We're delighted to be hosting the latest awakening of the W.I.T.C.H. coven right here in Caithness!

“We're always excited to be part of a creative process and this particular show will be a high-energy piece of gig-theatre that we think audiences will love.

“This will be the second premiere of new Scottish theatre we've had at LAC this month and we hope the reputation for Lyth as exciting, creative hub is growing.”

Before the show, there will be a free (but ticketed) workshop from 5pm for people to share stories of empowerment and rebellion with W.I.T.C.H.’s writer and director.

The performance begins at 8pm and tickets cost £6. For more information or to book tickets, go to www.lytharts.org.uk


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