THE tragic story of the infamous Salem Witch Trials is all the more disturbing because it is based on real events.
The Crucible, set in Massachusetts in 1692, brings to life a particularly bleak period in American history.
Arthur Miller's play focuses on the story of John Proctor and Abigail Williams who found themselves at the centre of a witch hunt as paranoia swept through the town of Salem, resulting in the deaths of several innocent people.
The play was first staged in 1953 but was brought to a wider audience thanks to the 1996 film of the same name, starring Winona Ryder and Daniel Day-Lewis.
A current GCSE text, the play has lost none of its poignancy and relevance in its depiction of the frailty of human nature and the susceptibility of communities to paranoia and mass hysteria.
New Theatre Royal , Portsmouth, November 20 - 23. Performance: 7.45pm. Tickets: £7. Box office: 023 9264 9000.
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