On Halloween 1968, Women’s International Terrorist Conspiracy from Hell (W.I.T.C.H.) was founded by a group of second wave feminists in New York. Dressed as witches, chanting “Wall Street, Wall Street, up against the Wall Street,” the group descended on the financial heartland of the US to administer a hexing. Behind their cloaks they were normal people fighting for what they believed was right.

In Scotland in 2019, a group of women gather on the evening of a political march to drink wine, share stories and figure out their place in the world. With the help of some witchy women who came before them, a new coven starts to awaken. They just don’t know how much power they have yet. Written by Louise Oliver and directed by Shilpa T-Hyland, W.I.T.C.H. is a high-energy experience that is part protest rally, part gig-theatre, part Witches Sabbath.

Inspired by feminist poet, journalist and original W.I.T.C.H. member Robin Morgan and her memoir Going Too Far, W.I.T.C.H. explores the Witch as a mythical and political figure. It delves into her shared history with matriarchs and healers, sexually liberated women, with revolutionary politics and her contemporary resurgence in popular culture, particularly within today’s political climate.

Following an ideas workshop at the National Theatre of Scotland, the project received some seed money from the RCS’ Make it Happen fund to support a two-day long residency on the Isle of Skye. This time was used to interrogate and respond to the original 1970s W.I.T.C.H. manifesto and connect with the Witch inside of us. Whilst on Skye, we made a creative pilgrimage to Dunscaith Castle, named after and home of the warrior maiden Scáthach of Celtic myth.

In October 2019 we completed a week-long residency at Lyth Arts Centre and W.I.T.C.H. received its first public work-in-progress sharing.