We are so excited to announce A&E COMEDY as our new associate artists.
The award-winning comedy double act, Abigail Dooley and Emma Edwards, both studied Scriptwriting for Film and Television at the University of Sussex. They have gone on to write a number of scripts for television and film, and are now here with their new show WITCH HUNT.
Tell us a bit about A&E Comedy, for those who may not know you yet!
We make visual, funny, surreal shows full of ridiculous characters, fantastical costumes, extreme wigs and deliciously dark humour. Our shows hold a mirror to the word and reflect it in all its messy, complicated glory. Our first show Enter The Dragons won the Broadway Baby Bobby for Best Show at Brighton Fringe. Witch Hunt landed a second Bobby nomination and won the Infallibles Award for Excellence.
"These two women are unafraid, unabashed, completely hilarious and very, very silly to boot.” *****
What can we expect to see from the show?
WITCH HUNT weaves a cautionary fairy tale for our time. We celebrate the wisdom of the witch, unpack the notion of predator and conjure a world of coven-ready weird sisters. Using buffoon, puppetry and magic and armed with a Wiccan sense of humour, we ask “can we use witchcraft to take down the patriarchy?” Yes we can!
What has the development of the show looked like?
As writer/performers we constantly update our shows to reflect current events. Witch Hunt originally developed from the #MeToo movement and adoption of the term Witch Hunt by Trump. The show originally, directed by Cal McCrystal and Bryony Kimmings as dramaturg, opened at Brighton and Edinburgh Fringe 2018. We were about to embark on a National tour in 2019, when lockdown struck. In this remounted production we will look through the lens of the last two years, Tory sleaze, Roe v Wade and the fact that the world is on fire. Expect plenty of new material!
How do you feel about working with WTM?
We are really thrilled to be working with WTM. Worthing has such an array of fantastic spaces and a growing reputation for excellent, inspired programming. WTM has been very supportive to us, hosting rehearsal space for Witch Hunt and the development of our new show next year. This feels full circle for Emma who went to the Saturday drama club at the Connaught as a child and Art College in Union Place.