BURN WITCH BURN is given a Lynchian makeover where plot and dialogue are minimalised and prominence is given to atmosphere, sound, visuals and movement. The sound design was reminiscent of the David Lynch film Eraserhead and set, movement and lighting design had echoes of the extradimensional locations in Lynch’s Twin Peaks. Director Claudia Osborne has an interest in progressing the story with sound, movement and visuals, rather than dialogue.
Writer Tasnim Hossain and writer/director Claudia Osborne have been adventurous with format and structure. A quirky description of the story is given by the talented Alex Packard, who then switches roles to become Norman, the academic lecturer at the centre of the story. His wife, Tansy (Alex Stamell), practises witchcraft and has used it to promote Norman’s career and to protect him from the sorcery of the other campus wives, who are promoting their husbands’ careers. Norman, when lecturing to his students about belief systems and superstition often states that people who practise witchcraft and believe in superstitions have a morbid desire to escape from reality. These words are twisted back on him when he comes under attack from witchcraft of the campus wives.
The reverberations of the wives malevolent witchcraft is displayed in highly choreographed and atmospheric staging. There is little dialogue in large parts of the performance. Instead swirling sounds, soulful lighting, fog and swirling drapes produce an ambience depicting Norman’s descent into a hallucinatory nightmare.
The hardworking crew responsible for the impressive atmospherics are Set Designer Emma White, Costume Designer Monique Langford, Lighting Designer Veronique Benett , Composer Chrysoulla Markouli, Associate Director Jennifer Rani , Movement Consultant Shy Magsalin, Producer Imogen Gardam, Associate Producer Monique Johnstone, Production Manager Caitlain Cowan and Stage Manager Annika Bertinat The cast members are Sheree da Costa, Daniel Gabriel, Alex Packard, Tivy Siripanich and Alex Stamell.
BURN WITCH BURN is on at the Old Fitz Theatre located within the Old Fitz Hotel located at 129 Dowling St, Woolloomooloo. The season. runs until the 30th July 2022.
