THE QUEER WITCH CONSPIRACY a World Premiere by THE SEEING PLACE THEATER Written by BRANDON WALKER and Directed by ERIN CRONICAN.
Available for streaming on YouTube until Sunday June 27
THE QUEER WITCH CONSPIRACY a World Premiere by THE SEEING PLACE THEATER Written by BRANDON WALKER and Directed by ERIN CRONICAN.
This play was inspired by real events when in 2015/16 the online group "The Queer Witch Collective" became the subject of controversy when one of its members offered human bones for sale that had been illegally collected. The group was disbanded after the story received international attention, with its members forming other groups after the dust settled.
"Society wants to drill in me by force".
Brandon Walker wrote this piece where a Zoom show is put together about a... Zoom call. Without spoiling it, because we consider over here that everybody needs to watch this, the call starts with the group of people questioning what had happened and who is responsible. As people start joining the call, including audience members that were in the live performances on June 23 and 24, the activity begins with land acknowledgments not only mentioning where they are and who the land rightfully belongs to, a true acknowledgment takes place: acknowledging the privilege that came to colonizers and their descendants, from the suffering and violence of the people from that territory, that continues until today. There is also a "Zoom acknowledgment" now that theatre is going back in person and there is also this fatigue of watching performances through a screen for over a year, Pala our host (performed by Jon L Peacock), very graciously and pertinently greets the group saying "If we cannot share breath, at least we can share energy".
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| Brandon Walker wrote and stars in The Queer Witch Conspiracy |
"For anything that breaks tradition with the Christian right"
The Story is a frame to discuss representation, inclusion, and intersectionality. With a cynic and playful tone that again is very pertinent. Reflecting this drainage of being mistreated when one does not fit into a social cannon. There are many phrases that precisely illustrate this.
The "he said/she said/they said" dynamic continues for about an hour. There is a betrayal, there is police brutality and in comes the reflection of it all.
What a thrill that this pandemic brought more online performances and Zoom performances that, although they do not beat a live, "sharing breath" in person performance, it surely is thought-provoking and damn well creative.
Bravo to The Seeing Place for offering this opportunity to keep the educating conversation going.
On Saturday, June 26, at 1pm EST there will be a live conversation with the Admins of the Facebook Group Theater Professionals of Underrepresented Genders. Check it out if you are able.
And Stream The Queer Witch Conspiracy on YouTube until Sunday, June 27. Tickets range from $10 to $50 dollars and are available at: www.TheSeeingPlace.com or by calling (866) 811-4111.
The production stars Laura Clare Browne (Animal Farm) as Mabel, Erin Cronican (Off Broadway's This One's For The Girls and Sistas, Animal Farm, and the NYIT nominated The Maids) as Elsa, William Ketter (Animal Farm, Measure for Measure) as Asriel, Juanes Montoya (Sweat) as Nas, Jon L Peacock (Julius Caesar with the Public Theater) as Pala, Brandon Walker (Animal Farm and the NYIT nominated Danny and the Deep Blue Sea) as Jadis, and Weronika Helena Wozniak (A Midsummer Night's Dream) as Willow.
Featuring scenic and costume design by Erin Cronican. Sound design by Brandon Walker.
The Seeing Place is presenting this play as a celebration of Pride Month. Proceeds from this benefit production will be donated to the Audre Lorde Project a LGTBQIA+ social justice organization.
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