Theatre / Reviews
Review: The Necromancer, The Wardrobe Theatre – ‘Haunting, hilarious and human: I couldn’t recommend it more’
I was lucky enough to catch the opening night of The Necromancer at The Wardrobe Theatre, and I can honestly say I was blown away. This show is simultaneously clever, funny, thought-provoking and moving – all wrapped into an hour and a half of theatre that seemed to fly by in what felt like minutes.
The songs are a real highlight. I left desperately wishing there was a soundtrack I could take home! One of my favourites was the powerful feminist ballad about being an almighty Necromancer – a fierce, empowering and beautifully delivered number. My friend was tickled pink by a playful track with the unforgettable catchy chorus, “Don’t mind me, I am just digging up my mum” which managed to be both absurd and brilliant.
The play covers an impressive amount of ground. Beneath the dark humour, it explores themes of family dynamics, grief, feminism, and the inhumanity of the witch trials. At times it has the weight and intensity of The Crucible, but moments later it pulls a U-turn and has the audience laughing out loud. This is even more impressive when you realise the whole show is carried by just two incredibly talented performers, who sing, act, and hold the stage with astonishing energy.
is needed now More than ever
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The Wardrobe Theatre has always been a brilliant space for quirky, independent shows, and The Necromancer is a perfect example. There’s a bittersweet element to productions like this: the joy of discovering something truly special, coupled with the knowledge that these songs and moments will never exist in quite the same way again. It makes the experience feel unique, almost fleeting… which is all part of the magic.
The play’s twist on familiar tropes is another marker of its success. The Necromancer himself, traditionally a sinister figure, becomes strangely safe and sympathetic within this show. He is a hermit who sleeps on a bed of rotting limbs, yes, but also someone set apart from the brutality of the witch trials. It’s a fascinating subversion that adds depth to the feminist undercurrents running through the piece.
In short, this show is bold, original, funny, haunting and utterly unforgettable. If you can get a ticket while it’s still on this week, I couldn’t recommend it more.
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The Necromancer is at The Wardrobe Theatre on September 30-October 2 at 7.30pm, and at the Front Room, Weston-super-Mare on October 5 at 7pm. Tickets are available at www.thewardrobetheatre.com and www.frontroomwsm.com respectively. Follow @crumplehorntheatre for updates.
Main photo: The Wardrobe Theatre
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