Tag: Encore Productions

With the storyline hinging on magic, mayhem and turning children into mice, I wasn’t sure how Roald Dahl’s much-loved classic The Witches would translate onstage, especially when performed by an amateur dramatic group whose budget wouldn’t stretch to fancy pyrotechnics and feats of theatrical excellence. The staging was simple, to be sure - perhaps a little too simplistic to really set the scene - but most of the ensemble within Encore Productions were strong enough to cast and maintain the spell over the audience for most of the performance. For me, the standout performers were Alfie Okell as the pre-pubescent protagonist The Boy and Julie Lord’s striking portrayal of The Grand High Witch. Special mention should also be given to Hannah Smith as Mrs Jenkins, whose deliberate ...