Which Witch

Subject: Which Witch
From: GUEST,Roger Nowell
Date: 28 Aug 12 - 09:50 AM

On August 20th, 1612, the Pendle Witches were hanged at Lancaster. To commemorate the 400th anniversary of what was a sensational event both locally and nationally, there have been several productions recently.

On Monday 27th August, BBC Radio Lancashire broadcast a musical history of the trial entitled "They are all witches - and they must hang". This featured original songs around narrative extracts from the trial account (by eye-witness Thomas Potts). Artists featured were The Jaywalkers, Ursula Holden Gill, David Summers, Stanley Accrington, Chris Harvey, Mary and Dylan Owen, and Phil Brown. It can be listened to on i-player for one week, for which the link is www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00x1tms

At Fylde Festival this coming weekend, another production about the Pendle Witches, featuring songs by Ron Baxter, will be taking place.

I have also heard of an acclaimed stage production on the subject by the Northern Broadsides Company that has toured UK recently. There are also exhibitions, talks etc

It's a powerful story and a witch-hunt is recommended