Martha Witchalse’s story, whether based in truth or simply a tale, has long been shared amongst Dartmoor’s communities.
Is it the story of an evil witch, who used her abilities to deplete her neighbour’s livestock, scare children, and segregated herself from society? Or is it the sad tale of a lonely, angry widow and mother who was pushed to the edges by her community?
Performed by members of the community, and written and directed by MED Theatre’s professional artists, this short play was created in only one week!
Martha is widowed as a young mother and strives to keep food on the table for her and her young son. But when disaster strikes and the community turn against them, what will happen to Martha in a world that doesn’t trust women living in isolation?
This exploration of themes around loneliness, witch hunts, and community will be performed by local community actors.
The below version of the Martha Witchalse story is one that was used by Mark Beeson – MED Theatre’s founder – when passing on the story to the next generation on Dartmoor.
