Last Updated on January 23, 2025
Furiously Witty Witchcraft at the National Theatre
The bewitching and darkly humorous tale, The Witches, opens for the Christmas season on the Olivier stage at the National Theatre in a co-production with the Roald Dahl Story Company. The stage production is based on Roald Dahl’s much loved 1983 children’s novel, a story which both enthralled and terrified my children as they were growing up, possibly magnified by the memorable 1990 movie directed by Nicolas Roeg and starring Angelica Huston.
This bitingly witty musical version is beautifully directed by Lyndsey Turner, who is reunited with Olivier Award-winner Lucy Kirkwood (book and lyrics) a decade after their Almeida smash ‘Chimerica’. A series of rousing and spirited songs come from Tony Award-nominee US composer Dave Malloy.
The expansive Oliver stage provides a great backdrop for Lizzie Clachan’s marvellous multitude of colourful flats and revolving sets, which provide everything from fully equipped kitchens to a hospital, a bus stop to the Magnificent Hotel in Bournemouth, where much of the action takes place. Clachan is also responsible for the fabulous costumes which provide a never-ending display of glorious outfits, whilst Bruno Poet’s lighting is quite spectacular.
The story follows ten-and-a-half-year-old Luke, who, on press night, was played with remarkable charm and assurance by Bertie Caplan (sharing the role with Frankie Keita and Vishal Soni). Luke is sadly orphaned very early in the narrative and goes to live with his eccentric, rather frosty Norwegian grandmother who he’s never met before and has no experience whatsoever with children. Seasoned actor Sally Ann Triplett is marvellous as the abrupt Gran who smokes Cuban cigars and has had personal encounters with witches in her past, quickly warning Luke about their existence and their hatred for children.
After Gran suffers a heart attack, the doctor advises Luke to take her for a holiday by the sea…which transports the story to the Magnificent Hotel. Daniel Rigby (who was brilliant in the recent production of Accidental Death of an Anarchist) gives a genius performance as the manic, Fawlty Towers-style hotel manager Mr Stringer.
The hotel is inadvertently hosting a gathering of witches from the UK, all of whom despise children and are intent on wiping them out altogether. They are led by the Grand High Witch, wonderfully portrayed by Katherine Kingsley. The witches (credit to all fifteen of them) come in disguise as ordinary-looking women who “do yoga and pilates and wash up after parties”, but what stands them apart is they all have wigs, which cover their bald heads and wear gloves to conceal their ghastly purple claws.
We meet with Mr and Mrs Jenkins (Ekow Quartey and Maggie Service) and their precocious young son Bruno who leads a charmed and privileged life. Bruno acts as the perfect foil to Luke, and is played by Cian Eagle-Service, (sharing the role with George Menezes Cutts and William Skinner). He is another extraordinary young performer who commanded the stage and dazzled the audience with his Broadway routine.
The witches swiftly initiate their malevolent scheme, with a potion called Formula 86 which transforms both Luke and Bruno into mice, sparking a series of frenzied escapades and prompting a collaboration between Luke and his Gran to thwart their nefarious intentions.
Stephen Mear’s choreography dazzles with its imagination and brilliance, entertaining with everything from dancing confectionary to a Clog Dancing Championship. The show features several truly catchy numbers such as Luke’s “Ready to Go,” Gran’s nostalgic “When I Was Young,” and “Get Up” performed by the talented young ensemble and Jersey Blu Georgia in the role of Helga on opening night.
The Witches is joyous and dark in equal measure, giving the RSC’s Matilda a run for its money, and striking a balance that doesn’t condescend to children and deftly treads the fine line between captivating both child and adult audiences.
Despite its two hours and forty-five-minute runtime, the production effortlessly engaged my two ten-year-old young companions. They not only laughed out loud but also diligently followed the narrative, invested in the characters, and were wide-eyed in wonder during certain spellbinding moments. The National Theatre has a holiday hit on its hands which is sure to go on and run.
The Witches runs in the Olivier Theatre from Tuesday 7 November until Saturday 27 January 2024.
It is recommended for ages 8+.
Tickets are available from £20 and are on sale now via the National Theatre website. For further information, including details about assisted performances, please visit:
https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/
Olivier at the National Theatre,
London
SE1 9PX
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