The Crucible Archives - North West End UK

The Crucible – Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre

22May

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

The Crucible – Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre

The Crucible, written by the extraordinary Arthur Miller, remains a powerful examination of mass hysteria, moral panic, and how fragile truth becomes in a climate of fear. At Shakespeare’s Globe, the play is given fresh urgency in a setting that amplifies both its historical weight and its emotional resonance. The Globe Theatre itself enhances the drama. Watching a performance in this open-air venue, with its wooden balconies and standing pit, is a unique and deeply atmospheric experience. The historical design transports you to another era, which makes The Crucible—though written in the 20th century—feel like a natural fit. The architecture reinforces the themes of scrutiny, public shame, and isolation. Set in 1692 Salem, the play dramatises a society tearing itself apart over accus...

Scottish Ballet: The Crucible – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

5May

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Scottish Ballet: The Crucible – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

Excelling in pretty much every aspect of theatrical performance, this revival of Scottish Ballet’s 2019 adaptation of Arthur Miller’s iconic play is a cast-iron cross-over hit full of exquisite movement, sublime sound, theatrical storytelling, ethereal lighting and brilliant set design, magical, darkly complex and supernaturally good. I say cross-over because this does not feel, or indeed sound like any ballet I have ever witnessed before. There is so much modern dance and passionate movement mixed in here with storytelling and set to a scintillating modern score by Peter Salem it feels like something completely new, different and exciting. The giant stage of The Festival Theatre can be daunting, some productions just get swallowed up here. But not this one. In Emma Kingsbury and Dav...

17Jun

By Jennifer LaishleyNo Comments

London

The Crucible – Gielgud Theatre

The National Theatre’s version of The Crucible is a play that is not to be missed. Both new audiences and fans of the original Arthur Miller play will enjoy. This talented cast use every moment to create drama and suspense and keep the audience entertained. The Crucible has recently transferred to the Gielgud Theatre after a successful run at the National Theatre last year. The show uses Arthur Miller’s original script under the direction of Lyndsey Turner. The story follows the town of Salem as they start to accuse the women of witchcraft. Singing is used throughout the play to add dramatic suspense. At the beginning this takes the form of haunting humming and by the end of the show this transforms into a haunted chorus of singing, showing that the girls have taken control. Photo...

8Jun

By Bev ClarkNo Comments

North West

The Crucible – Gladstone Theatre

A bold, original attempt at this classic, which ascends to a powerful ending. The Crucible is one of the seminal and most popular plays of the mid 20thcentury. Miller’s chilling parable of mass hysteria parallels the Salem witch-hunt of 1692 against The McCarthyism of 1950s America, and it is still examined in school rooms, as well as being performed by amateurs and professionals. It is a play which should feverishly bubble and burn, as it builds from what was a girlish prank, to a community that destroys itself from within with its frantic frenzy of accusations. It is a claustrophobic, intense ‘wailing’ of a play that can fall victim to overflowing and reaching boiling point too soon. The alchemy is in getting the temperature and consistency right as the plot thickens. It is a bo...

5Oct

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

The Crucible – National Theatre

The National sets us off right into Spooky Season with the retelling of the classic tale, The Crucible directed by Lyndsey Turner. Immediately thrown into a grand atmosphere gushing rain from the ceiling and the distant flickering of two candles placed neatly on a table on stage. It’s hard not to be in awe, a feeling that only seems to expand during your experience with this show. As a very loved, famous tale (although one I’m not familiar with myself) the audience will be very sure on the story that they will be viewing, to make this individual and give it the impact that it is capable of is certainly a task: one that they handled with edge and power. We are firstly introduced to our cast in a beautifully haunting choral song, one that follows through the performance and growing only w...

The Crucible – Woolton Drama Group at St James’ Hall, Woolton

19Aug

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

The Crucible – Woolton Drama Group at St James’ Hall, Woolton

Whilst Arthur Miller’s 1953 play dramatises the true story of the horrific with hunts in Salem, Massachusetts at the end of the 17th century, at its time of writing it was an allegory of the anti-Communist persecutions in post-World War 2 McCarthy era USA. That it remains an accurate reflection of the fashion and fad culture of today reinforces the idiom that rather than learn from history we continue to make the same mistakes. Act I sets the background to the play and to the mischief which will become frenzy as the sanity of this God-fearing community is broken down with the upright Reverend Pariss (Andrew Parsons) and the Putnams (Curtis McGuinness and Georgina Anwyl) waiting expectantly on his afflicted daughter Betty (Razz Cadman). The arrival of Giles Corey (Zoran Blackie), Reveren...

Scottish Ballet: The Crucible – Sadler’s Wells

16Jun

By Stewart Who?No Comments

London

Scottish Ballet: The Crucible – Sadler’s Wells

Arthur Miller’s The Crucible has a rare quality of being ubiquitous, but consistently relevant, provocative and timely. There’s always a witch hunt somewhere. Medieval villagers with pitchforks have evolved into middle aged idiots on Facebook. Or mob-giddy kids on TikTok. Theocracies continue to thrive, and the oppression in those places can make The Crucible seem tame. I’m looking at you; Yemen, Afghanistan, The Vatican, Saudi Arabia and Iran. Arthur Miller was famously a victim of McCarthy era ‘Reds under the Bed’ paranoia. The playwright was questioned by the House of Representatives' Committee on Un-American Activities in 1956 and convicted of contempt of Congress for refusing to identify others present at meetings he had attended. His play is more than just an allegorical spin on A...