the trial

strictly no photography or video during the shows duration. please put phones on silent or turn them off.

Recommended for 13+. Contains supernatural themes.

The show does use special effects including smoke machine & Strobe lighting.

If you require access for a wheelchair, please see our Front of House Team prior to the show.

Thanks to the Arthur Miller society for allowing us to work with the original crucible text for this adaptation.

the rehearsal floor

director’s notes

The truth must come out

This line is delivered by almost every character throughout The Trial, and it encapsulates the heart of the story. Throughout the play, we wrestle with the importance of truth, the difference between what is true and what we wish to be true, and what happens when we are willing to compromise truth and honesty.

In preparation for Goat Track’s Year of the Story, our team discussed canonical stories that have stood the test of time. Undeniably, one of those is Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. Based on real historical figures and events from the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, Miller’s work became the inspiration for our adaptation, The Trial. Miller’s work and these historical events provoke powerful questions about the supernatural, hysteria, fear, and the religious and political exploitation of communities. However, as we looked more closely at the real people behind them, we found ourselves instead drawn to one question in particular: truth. What causes us to lie? What happens when those lies grow beyond our control? And how do we redeem and realign ourselves with truth when deception has already caused harm?

Such symbolism has become an important part of this production. We have used minimal, raw elements, metallic risers at varying heights, candles, shadows and carefully arranged wooden chairs, to represent how characters position themselves in proximity to the truth and in hierarchy to one another. Similarly, sound and lighting are symbolically introduced or removed as characters choose to lie to themselves or to others.

Throughout the writing and production process, I’ve watched our young people grow powerfully, both as performers and as people. They have wrestled with their own understanding of truth, courageously shared stories about honesty and deception, and considered what might lead them to make the same choices as our characters. We have explored the fears, desires and personal deceptions driving every character. Mary Warren struggles between telling the truth and her fear of rejection and, eventually, persecution. Mrs Putnam’s grief, infertility and unmet desires drive her to turn against Rebecca out of jealousy and fear of judgement. Abigail’s deep desire for security, to be wanted and loved having grown up in a world of trauma and dismissal drives her to lie, accuse and threaten, grabbing desperately at any opportunity for self preservation and attention. John Proctor, meanwhile, has tried to run from the immoral choices he made while struggling in his relationship with Elizabeth, but must ultimately face both his actions and the suffering they have caused himself and those he loves.

Working with our students to approach these complex characters with compassion, even when those characters behave immorally, and to portray their struggles in a way that is truthful and honours the complexity of human nature has been an incredible privilege.
In doing so, they have truly embodied the purpose of theatre as “the seeing place.” As Stella Adler famously said, “It is the place people come to see the truth about life and the social situation. The irony of acting is that we want to play the truth.”

That is what The Trial ultimately asks of us: leave the performance on the stage and in life continually work to align ourselves with truth. To honour ourselves and those around us with authenticity and care no matter our circumstances, consequences or mistakes.

I could not be prouder of the journey our students have been on, the courage they have shown, and the way they have grown. I cannot wait to share this incredible story with you.

The truth must come out.

HELENSVALE CAST

Ewan Hurtley

as JOHN PROCTOR (Both Casts)

Dominique Porter

as ABIGAIL WILLIAMS (Both Casts)

Sienna Menzies

as ELIZABETH PROCTOR (Both Casts)

Ariel Dittmann

as REBECCA NURSE (Abigail Cast) & MARY WARREN (Elizabeth Cast)

Hannah McCusker

as BETTY PARRIS (Abigail Cast) & REVEREND HALE (Elizabeth Cast)

Drishaana Sharma-Nair

as MERCY LEWIS (Both Casts)

Aiden Belzner

as MR THOMAS PUTNAM (Both Casts)

Nadya Tempesta

as JUDGE DANFORTH (Abigail Cast) & BETTY PARRIS (Elizabeth Cast)

Millie Wagner

as ENSEMBLE and ANGEL OF DEATH (Abigial Cast) & GILA COREY (Elizabeth Cast)

Nevaeh Shaw

as ENSEMBLE (Abigail Cast) & MRS ANN PUTNAM (Elizabeth Cast)

Anna Vasvari

as MARY WARREN (Abigail Cast) & REBECCA NURSE (Elizabeth Cast)

Chloe Corbett

as REVEREND PARRIS (Both Casts)

Freya Hawley

as RUTH PUTNAM and TITUBA (Both Casts)

Monique Eckford

as MRS ANN PUTNAM (Abigail Cast) & JUDGE DANFORTH (Elizabeth Cast)

Harper Brady

as REVEREND HALE (Abigail Cast) & ENSEMBLE (Elizabeth Cast)

Christopher Krauss

as GILES COREY (Abigail Cast) & ENSEMBLE (Elizabeth Cast)

Sophia Bennet

as ENSEMBLE (Both Casts)