Review: Beware The Hellcats at Durham Fringe (25.07.24)

Picture this: five women standing on stage as spotlights beamed down, casting their figures in a white light. The sound of wind chimes danced through the air. The darkness of night began to close in on them, as scattered grey clouds shrouded the skies. Men called out to them and told them they were dangerous, merely for being women; each of them were from different walks of life and yet all were treated with the same malice. With this, you would have an accurate representation of the feelings of oppression imposed upon women by the patriarchy through the ages. You would also have an image of Hellcats – the wonderfully witty and witchy show by Menstrual Rage. A flurry of riotous and unruly energy, this is the story of five girls condemned for being witches.

Fans of Six the Musical would be enamoured and enticed by Hellcats. With sudden swiftness, even more chaotic wonder ruled over the play than previously, as a rap segment told the tale of the witchfinder general Matthew Hopkins. It carefully laid out the facts of his esteemed list of feats and unusual witch-discovering techniques. This was performed in tow with his band of Prickers – so named for the technique of pricking used in witch trials to uncover a true witch (a historically accurate technique according to King James I in Demonology). Absurd and amazing, this added an air of vitality and eccentricity to the play, reminiscent of the Haus of Holbein performance (even down to glowing neon glasses!). 

Throughout, light-hearted humour was used to capture the audience’s attention. The acting was phenomenal across all characters, played interchangeably by the actresses, from the main roles of the five accused witches, to Matthew Hopkins and his band of Prickers, to a quintessentially quirky priest. Prop mishaps only added a further layer of hilarity to the play, with lopsided moustaches not only drawing laughter out of the audience but adding to the idiotic nature of individual characters. 

As usual with Menstrual Rage productions, Hellcats is brimming with feminist ideology and commentary on societal issues. Cleverly, it discusses issues from the suppression of female creativity, to the treatment of single mothers, to rape and sexual harassment culture. All of these matters are discussed with cutting, crude language: a manifestation of their rage and fury. 

A lively, suggestive and compelling play – Hellcats is perfect for feminists and witch-lovers alike.