Bog Witch

Bog Witch is a solo piece about anthropogenic climate change, moving from the city to the countryside in an attempt to fill what the protagonist calls the “hole in her soul”. Pregnancy, miscarriage, environmental damage and a witching social circle all become part of Bryony Kimmings’ confrontation with the human impact on the environment. As the audience watches the stage gradually itself become a bog, filled more and more with dirt as the show continues, the production’s central metaphor becomes increasingly literal.

The concept is interesting. The comedy, unfortunately, is subpar, and that weakens a piece that is otherwise much more polished than its jokes. Kimmings is a good performer, and there is plenty here theatrically: songs, storytelling, visual effects and some very good use of the space.

The technology is practised and far cleaner than the dirt-covered stage. The projections, lighting and sound combine to make the production feel considerably bigger and more elaborate than a one-person show has any right to. It is very, very polished, and there are some striking moments where the technical machinery does much of the work of creating the strange world around Kimmings.

The result is a show with considerably better theatrical machinery than comic material. The idea works well enough to sustain interest, and the production looks and feels accomplished, but the comedy does not consistently do its part.

Bog Witch by Avalon & Tellus Studio present.