The intense, visceral choreography in this edge-of-your-seat production unleashes the emotional force of Arthur Miller’s famous play about the 17th-century Salem witch trials. Tender, devastating duets are followed by intoxicating solos and wild, feverish ensemble numbers as the tight-knit village community unravels into chaos.
Choreographed by Helen Pickett, with stylish costumes, gothic lighting and a striking, modernist set designed by David Finn and Emma Kingsbury, the production is accompanied by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra, performing Peter Salem’s haunting, immersive, electro-acoustic score.
With themes as resonant today as ever, Scottish Ballet’s The Crucible has been described as a ‘ballet for our times’ and is a masterclass in storytelling through dance.
Synopsis
Act 1
Prologue
On the verge of womanhood, a girl imagines her future.
The Proctors’ house
The girl, Abigail, works for the family of Elizabeth and John Proctor and becomes entangled in a dangerous relationship.
Meeting House
The community of Salem join together in a service of devotion and fellowship, led by Reverend Samuel Parris.
Shadow Play
Abigail and her friends, including Parris’ daughter, Betty, play at the edge of the village.
Forest
The girls follow Tituba, Parris’ slave, into the forest. Abigail seeks a way to curse Elizabeth Proctor. As they dance, out of control, the girls are discovered by Reverend Parris. Betty collapses and is carried by her father to the Meeting House.
Meeting House
The community rallies. Reverend Hale, an expert in witchcraft, is summoned. In the process of trying to save Betty, a powerful force is unleashed in Salem as the girls begin to accuse people within the community of witchcraft.
Act 2
Meeting House — Witch trial
Events have progressed; as the community fragments, increasing numbers fall under suspicion. The Deputy Governor of Massachusetts, Danforth, leads the hearings.
The Proctors’ House
Abigail persuades the Proctors’ new servant, Mary, to store a poppet, a small doll made to look like Abigail herself, in the Proctors’ home. Unbeknownst to Mary, the poppet, stuck with a pin, serves as evidence of witchcraft. The authorities arrive with a search warrant, discover the poppet and accuse Elizabeth. Sure of her innocence, Elizabeth gives herself up for arrest so she may speak her truth in court.
Meeting House — Court
Given a choice between a confession or the noose, the prisoners holdfast to their truth. For Elizabeth and John Proctor, their private shame of John’s affair is made public and Abigail is exposed. However, in denying her husband’s affair, Elizabeth, unwittingly, condemns herself.
Outskirts of the Village
Unable to bear her humiliation, Abigail flees Salem.
Jail
As the day of reckoning dawns for the citizens of Salem, John Proctor faces a terrible choice, should he save his life or his name.
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Edinburgh Playhouse
Although designed as a variety theatre, the Edinburgh Playhouse opened in 1929 as Scotland’s second largest cinema. It was hugely successful and remained so until the downturn in cinema attendance in the early 70s. When it closed in November 1973, the building was at risk of demolition, but following several years of public ‘save the Playhouse’ campaigns it was eventually saved. It reopened in 1980 as the fully functional theatre it was always intended to be. Since then, it has hosted some of the world's biggest music and stand-up comedy acts including, Elton John, The Who, Nick Cave, Kevin Bridges and Tim Minchin and international hit musicals such as The Phantom of the Opera, We Will Rock You, Wicked, Matilda and Disney’s The Lion King.