Small Town Life

"I thought: wouldn't it be interesting if it was just one powerful individual in the community challenging another and it became a struggle between the two? In small communities you can often get that kind of scenario." - Rona Munro, playwright

The fact that The Last Witch takes place in a very small town is of extreme importance to the development of plot and characters. This is not a story of mob mentality and societal outrage as much as it is a character study of how individuals respond to one another. Placing these characters in a small town means that each of them have a significant presence and influence in the town. For example, characters like Niall and Douglas Begg are often overwhelmed their duties and the consequences of their actions. The environment evokes a sense of individual culpability and raises the stakes throughout the play.

Examples

ELSPETH. I wish you'd think harder about who your anger hurts.

ROSS. And you're the town locksmith as well?

DOUGLAS. I am, sir.

ROSS. Well, that makes you town jailer and executioner too, doesn't it? If we've need of you?

JANET. You know what I am, Douglas! You know all that I am, you've seen me every day these twenty years! I'm just Janet from up the hill, Douglas...

DOUGLAS. But... she's my neighbour! I've known her nearly twenty years!

ROSS. And you know she's a witch. What did you think was going to happen?