The Crucible is an iconic play, written in 1953 by Arthur Miller. It is set in Salem during the witch trials and examines how rumours of witchcraft escalate from preacher Parris finding his daughter and niece, Abigal dancing in the forest through to the imprisonment and death of those that find themselves front and centre of the witch hunt lead by Abigal and her friends.

The show itself is one which has been performed and studied numerous times over the years and I was intrigued to see what Sedos would bring to their version of the play and what I took away from their production is the coherency of their production. The language of the play can often be hard to penetrate but directors Jonah McLeod and Anoushka Nairac ensured that the story was front and centre, that the lighter moments were brought out but so to were the moments of drama and all in a manner that was impactful. The audience were quickly drawn into the frenzy of the accusations and were so compelled by John Proctor and his story that audible sobs could be heard in his final speech.

The Crucible relies on a cast of strong actors across the board to ensure that the audience buy into the Witchhunt and the gravity of the consequences and there was no shortage of this in Sedos’ production. John Procor was played by Jamie Bowman and he was brilliant in the role, a perfect blend of rough around the edges to reflect his farming status combined with charismatic when he needed to be to garner the support of his friends and the affection of Abigail. His impassioned pleas were moving and whilst he was a flawed man he utterly convinced as someone willing to go to extremes to stop the horrors that were unfurling around him. His steadfast wife, Elizabeth Protector was played by Helen McGill and she was the ying to his yang. Her demeanour was more muted and introverted than his but it was easy to believe that she was the honest woman of John’s speeches.

Megan Sheerin was Abigail Williams and she played the manipulative young woman spectacularly and thanks to her portrayal and McLeod and Nairac’s director to give her the last look of the third act I could feel my anger rising towards Abigail almost as much as John’s himself. Molly Clifford played Mary Warren, the Proctor’s help and the only one brave enough to try to stand up to Abigail. She was clearly conflicted and the anguish was visible and perfectly played.  

The set designed by Ellen Redgrave was kept simple yet effective, with wooden pillars moved around and used to create everything from the shadows in the woods to the feeling that the walls are crowding the Proctors out of their home. The lighting design by Olly Levett and Jarek Ciba enhance the mood throughout and really help create a sense of space for each location.

It is no surprise that in the current political climate the Crucible remains compelling and relevant viewing. Thanks for a clear portrayal of the text and some of the finest acting I have seen on an amateur stage Sedos’ have succeeded in showing that whilst The Crucible may be set in the past it is very much a play for the present.

The Crucible is on at the Bridewell Theatre until 20^th September. You can book tickets and find out more about Sedos here.

If you like this review you might also like my reviews of Hairspray, The Color Purple and Hedda Gabler, all by Sedos