PRICK

The Scottish witch hunts—sanctioned by the state, fuelled by the church, fed by hysteria, and buried by history. The threat of the devil loomed, and women bore the brunt of the terror. PRICK reclaims a piece of the story of those “stranglet to the death and burnt to ashes.” Inspired by the Witches of Scotland campaign to remember the folk who were victims of this terrible miscarriage of justice, PRICK traverses...

The Scottish witch hunts—sanctioned by the state, fuelled by the church, fed by hysteria, and buried by history. The threat of the devil loomed, and women bore the brunt of the terror. PRICK reclaims a piece of the story of those “stranglet to the death and burnt to ashes.” Inspired by the Witches of Scotland campaign to remember the folk who were victims of this terrible miscarriage of justice, PRICK traverses magic and memory, fact and fiction, past and present.

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PRICK

Originally created for actors identifying as 3M/3W. Could be done with a larger cast and/or adding puppeteers/ensemble.

This play centers characters with Scottish identity in the early modern period. A director may choose to play with gender and identity in their casting, understanding that the identities of the historical characters will not change.

Doubling is required and flexible.

Woman 1/Isabel Gowdie/Janet
Woman 2/Marion Tweedy/Farmer's Wife
Woman 3/Unknown Woman/Jonet
Man 1/King James/Gravedigger/Fox (puppet)
Man 2/Farmer/Watcher 1/The Pricker/Courtier 2
Man 3/Auld Nick/The Investigator/Watcher 2/Courtier 1/Man 3/Tom Cat (puppet)/Jackdaw (puppet)

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Citrus College, Los Angeles, CA, Cherie Brown, dir., Year 2024
  • Type Residency, Organization Door Kinetic Arts Festival with Proboscis Theatre, Chicago, Year 2024

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization Proboscis Theatre Company, Chicago, Year 2025
  • Type University, Organization Tulane University, Amy Chaffee, dir., Year 2025
  • Type Professional, Organization Drayton Arms Theatre, London, Year 2024
  • Type Fringe, Organization Edinburgh Fringe, Light the Match Productions, Meggie Greivell dir., Year 2023

Awards

  • OffFest Nomination
    Offies Awards
    Selection
    2023