The Last Witch: something wicked this way comes...

Pitlochry Theatre’s unique summer season of six different productions per week is now fully complete with the introduction of Rona Munro’s bewitching tale of The Last Witch.

This is its first revival since it was commissioned for the Edinburgh International Festival in 2009.

Director Richard Baron, designer Ken Harrison and composer Jon Beales have given it a new lease of life with the introduction of vocals and a soundscape that add a degree of eeriness to the atmosphere; and let’s not forget about the allimportant lighting contribution from Wayne Dowdeswell’s team.

With such support, it’s little wonder the seven-strong cast responds with a performance that leaves an uneasy feeling about man’s inhumanity to man, which can still be found across the world.

The last woman to be burned as a witch (she’s given the name of Janet Horne in Munro’s play) occurred in 1727 in the Sutherland town of Dornoch.

Strangely, in this version, Janet (Deirdre Davis, quite superb) is quite happy to accept the accusations laid at her door, almost enjoying the notoriety. But neighbour Douglas (Alan Steele) is not a happy farmer when his cows fall ill and a couple of pigs meet their demise, all due to a “curse”.

Then it all takes a darker turn. Janet is chained up and kept awake for days to “encourage” a confession. Meanwhile, Janet’s daughter Helen (Fiona Wood) is convinced she has met the devil (appropriately named Nick and played with great panache by Alan Mirren) but, despite her attempts to save her mother and take the blame, she is dismissed with a metaphorical pat on the head and a “there, there, now”.

Helen Logan is the farmer’s wife with Graham Mackay-Bruce as the fire and brimstone minister and David Rankine plays Captain Ross, the sociopathic witch hunter, with a degree of ironic humour.

It is a dramatic finale, so atmospheric, and a total contrast to all the other offerings on show at Pitlochry.

The Last Witch continues in repertoire until October 11.