Huntingdon Drama Club is in rehearsal for its November production of Arthur Miller’s masterpiece of 20th century drama The Crucible.

And the drama club has chosen a stunning and historic venue for the production, which runs from November. The play, which premiered in 1953, will take place in one of the original old court rooms at Huntingdon Town Hall.

“For this particular production the club has chosen a venue that will add a certain spice to proceedings,” said Dean Laccohee from the club.

“The historic court room at Huntingdon Town Hall was built on the site of the 16th century trial of the Warboys witches. Alice Samuel and her family from the nearby village of Warboys were accused of witchcraft by a neighbouring family in 1589, and by 1593 had been tried and executed in Huntingdon.

“The intimate wooden court room lends itself perfectly to an atmospheric ‘in the round’ interpretation of the play where audience members will be just inches from the action.”

Director Rae Goodwin has assembled a strong cast for the production, a mixture of familiar faces along with a number of actors making their debut performances with the club.

Miller’s dramatisation of the Salem witch trials is a metaphor for Senator Joseph McCarthy’s communist witch hunts that rocked America in the 1950s.

Initially, Miller’s play recieved a lukewarm reception from audiences but is now one of thes most-performed pieces around the world, including recent productions in London at the Old Vic in 2014 and on Broadway in 2016 with British actor Ben Whishaw in the role of John Proctor.

The Crucible runs at Huntingdon Town Hall, from November 21-25, and performances are at 7.30pm. Tickets available from Ticket Source via the club website at: www.huntingdondramaclub.org.uk, by telephone 0333 666 3366 or on the door. Tickets are limited to 69 people per performance so early booking is advised. For more information about the club and the production, visit the website and the club’s Facebook page.