The Crucible

April - May 2006

Five young girls look up, scared. Some clasp their hands over their mouths, others hold on to each other. In the foreground on had her palms pressed together in a praying gesture.

Overview

A co-production by The National Theatre of Scotland and TAG Theatre Company

2005 saw the death of Arthur Miller, “one of the greatest American playwrights of the twentieth century” (The Guardian). This is a rare chance to see his masterpiece, an intense and timeless work inspired by the 1692 witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts.

A riveting drama of individual conscience set against a community consumed by hysteria, The Crucible puts truth on trial as the actions of a group of young girls fuel a lethal climate of fear and intolerance. At its heart lies one man’s fight to retain his identity.

This unique large-scale production will feature a cast of professional actors, working alongside school and non-professional actors. The ten-strong company will work with a different group of school and community performers in each of its five touring destinations.

These performances are the culmination of a pioneering six-month schools and community collaboration with the National Theatre of Scotland and TAG Theatre Company.

By permission of the Royal Shakespeare Company.