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The Last Witch
The Last Witch is based on the historical account of Janet Horne, the last woman to be executed for witchcraft in Scotland. Her refusal to deny the charge of witchcraft puts her in dangerous opposition to the new sheriff, and her defiance threatens not only her own life but that of her daughter.
The Firebrand production of The Last Witch, directed by Richard Baron, featured in Pitlochry Festival Theatre's summer season and toured to the Tron Theatre, Glasgow (30 October - 3 November) and the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh ( 7 - 10 November) in the autumn.
The Firebrand production of The Last Witch, directed by Richard Baron, featured in Pitlochry Festival Theatre's summer season and toured to the Tron Theatre, Glasgow (30 October - 3 November) and the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh ( 7 - 10 November) in the autumn.
96 pages, Paperback
First published August 20, 2009
77 people want to read
About the author
Rona Munro
70 books14 followersRona Munro is a Scottish writer. She has written plays for theatre, radio, and television. Her film work includes Ken Loach's Ladybird, Ladybird (1994), Oranges and Sunshine (2010) for Jim Loach and Aimée & Jaguar (1999), co-authored by German director Max Färberböck. Her television work includes the last Doctor Who television serial of the original run to air, Survival (1989), episodes of the drama series Casualty (BBC) and the BBC film Rehab., directed by Antonia Bird.
Her play Iron which has received many productions worldwide. Other plays include Strawberries in January (translation) for the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Mary Barton for Manchester Royal Exchange, Long Time Dead for Plymouth Drum Theatre and Paines Plough, and The Indian Boy for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Munro contributed eight dramas to Radio 4's Stanley Baxter Playhouse: First Impressions, Wheeling Them In, The King's Kilt, Pasta Alfreddo at Cafe Alessandro, The Man in the Garden, The Porter's Story, The German Pilot and The Spider.
In 2006 the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith presented Munro's adaptation of Richard Adams' classic book, Watership Down.
Her play, The Last Witch, was performed at the 2009 Edinburgh Festival, directed by Dominic Hill, and in 2011 by Dumbarton People's Theatre. Her history cycle The James Plays, James I, James II and James III, were first performed by the National Theatre of Scotland in summer 2014 in a co-production with Edinburgh International Festival and the National Theatre of Scotland.
Her play Iron which has received many productions worldwide. Other plays include Strawberries in January (translation) for the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Mary Barton for Manchester Royal Exchange, Long Time Dead for Plymouth Drum Theatre and Paines Plough, and The Indian Boy for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Munro contributed eight dramas to Radio 4's Stanley Baxter Playhouse: First Impressions, Wheeling Them In, The King's Kilt, Pasta Alfreddo at Cafe Alessandro, The Man in the Garden, The Porter's Story, The German Pilot and The Spider.
In 2006 the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith presented Munro's adaptation of Richard Adams' classic book, Watership Down.
Her play, The Last Witch, was performed at the 2009 Edinburgh Festival, directed by Dominic Hill, and in 2011 by Dumbarton People's Theatre. Her history cycle The James Plays, James I, James II and James III, were first performed by the National Theatre of Scotland in summer 2014 in a co-production with Edinburgh International Festival and the National Theatre of Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 4, 2024
I was immediately sold by the line ‘Janet (unconvinced): I’m going to become a bee’
September 10, 2018
A brilliant, intelligent look at a struggle for power between the sexes; othering; and the inherent hypocrisy of misogyny. Munro really packs a punch with this powerful and atmospheric dramatization of the story of Janet Horne, the last woman to be executed for witchcraft in Scotland, in 1727.
The way the plot unfolds, and the level of ambiguity that Munro preserves, are both pitched perfectly. This further fuels the already tense atmosphere, and allows for both quietly unsettling moments, and moments of real pathos.
Janet as a heroine is fascinating, and skilfully constructed. She's endearing for her boldness of spirit, yet complex and flawed in her treatment of her disfigured daughter, Helen. She clearly loves Helen, and yet is capable of real cruelty. It becomes clear that her harsh words, designed to make her daughter feel utterly undesirable to others, are a means of keeping her close. This, however, is done as much to protect her from the dangerous world of men as it is to ensure she herself doesn't end up alone.
Despite finding herself in real danger, Janet knowingly perpetuates the belief that she may well be a witch. Neither denying it, nor outright proving it, she soon finds herself manipulated into an impossible situation. Having others fear her is her currency and her protection; the means by which she barters for goods, and provides for herself and her daughter. If she proves she is indeed a witch, she will be killed; if she admits it's all been a lie, she loses that power, and without a man to provide for her, she will be equally doomed. It is this bitter realisation that lies at the heart of Janet's excellent characterisation, and the play's somehow timeless look at how men abuse the system to keep women under their rule.
There's a suggestion running throughout that a large part of Janet's real magic is how she uses language and the powers of nature to control how people perceive her and the world around them, which I also loved. And there's a strong element of sisterhood, which was beautifully done.
It's an altogether shocking, rousing, yet moving tale; one I cannot wait to see play out on stage.
The way the plot unfolds, and the level of ambiguity that Munro preserves, are both pitched perfectly. This further fuels the already tense atmosphere, and allows for both quietly unsettling moments, and moments of real pathos.
Janet as a heroine is fascinating, and skilfully constructed. She's endearing for her boldness of spirit, yet complex and flawed in her treatment of her disfigured daughter, Helen. She clearly loves Helen, and yet is capable of real cruelty. It becomes clear that her harsh words, designed to make her daughter feel utterly undesirable to others, are a means of keeping her close. This, however, is done as much to protect her from the dangerous world of men as it is to ensure she herself doesn't end up alone.
Despite finding herself in real danger, Janet knowingly perpetuates the belief that she may well be a witch. Neither denying it, nor outright proving it, she soon finds herself manipulated into an impossible situation. Having others fear her is her currency and her protection; the means by which she barters for goods, and provides for herself and her daughter. If she proves she is indeed a witch, she will be killed; if she admits it's all been a lie, she loses that power, and without a man to provide for her, she will be equally doomed. It is this bitter realisation that lies at the heart of Janet's excellent characterisation, and the play's somehow timeless look at how men abuse the system to keep women under their rule.
There's a suggestion running throughout that a large part of Janet's real magic is how she uses language and the powers of nature to control how people perceive her and the world around them, which I also loved. And there's a strong element of sisterhood, which was beautifully done.
It's an altogether shocking, rousing, yet moving tale; one I cannot wait to see play out on stage.
September 17, 2017
This play is fantastic, and I am so glad that I am dramaturging a production of it. This is a great play to showcase the ridiculousness and sexism in witches in history. This play focuses on Janet Horne, who is the last witch to be burned to the stake. This is a powerful, female-centered brain that it wonderfully crafted and written. I love the ending. It's a nice play that shows people's limits.
February 25, 2010
A great read, I would love to see this performed. Based on the story of Janet Horne, the last woman to be executed for witchcraft in Scotland. The subject is ideal for theatre, and Munro's use of language is very powerful. I loved it that she made no attempt to apologise or rationalise the characters and situation, but simply let them speak for themselves.
October 3, 2025
actual rating: 2.5 🌟
it wasn’t bad . i just didn’t care
it wasn’t bad . i just didn’t care
November 10, 2019
Oh that last scene between Elspeth and Janet brought me to tears...
February 13, 2022
Read for my Scotland and the Supernatural class.
February 5, 2023
A powerful story about gender and community. Based on the life story of Janet Horne. The last person to be executed as a witch in Scotland.
February 5, 2024
Eerie, moving, powerful
October 26, 2025
Witch plays seem pretty popular--written by Churchill, Miller, Shakespeare, and others. One thing that makes this play unique among the witch plays I know is that for many of the people in this community Janet Horne--a known witch--is just a regular community member. Today I think we tend to think of accusations of witchcraft being accompanied with an hysterical frenzy leading to large groups of people being tortured and burned. But in Munro's play, Horne's neighbors know she's a witch and don't really seem to care that much, except to the extent that she 'curses' their cattle, though Munro doesn't give us a clear answer on whether Horne actually has that power or whether she just accepts credit to build her reputation as a powerful witch.
The other interesting element is the uncertainty about Horne's guilt, because uncertainty is a pretty common element of supernatural plays. But here there is a strong suggestion that Janet's daughter Helen may actually have sold her soul to the devil, whereas Janet may not have been a real witch.
https://youtu.be/t0JbyvSgU5o
The other interesting element is the uncertainty about Horne's guilt, because uncertainty is a pretty common element of supernatural plays. But here there is a strong suggestion that Janet's daughter Helen may actually have sold her soul to the devil, whereas Janet may not have been a real witch.
https://youtu.be/t0JbyvSgU5o
September 20, 2022
fantastic
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews