Bog Witch *****

In Bog Witch, there’s something magical about Bryony Kimmings.

It is her latest production, Kimmings narrates her sudden move to a country farm. As a dazzling urbanite, this is quite some pivot. She has met a man (Will), also now single with a child, and they agree to merge family units. Will is a committed environmentalist, whereas Kimmings has a “large hole in her soul” – perhaps reconnecting with nature will help?

While the rest of the family thrive following the move, she is discombobulated. Her former Brighton life of shopping, bumping into friends and trivial purchases suddenly seems very distant. Her hole is growing larger.

Desperate for female company, she visits a new acquaintance’s home, summarily describing it as a “hobbit’s vagina”. She reluctantly joins a coven, hoping it will involve little more than sitting around drinking pints rather than being burnt at the stake.

She continues to miss her former life, never quite settling into cottagecore. She adopts a one-eyed cat, or perhaps he adopts her, shadowing her every movement. A series of life events go against her. Nothing seems capable of filling that hole, and briefly the mood of the production shifts, as Kimmings hints at breakdown.

But she does eventually find herself at one with nature, refusing to chop down an oak tree and acknowledging mankind’s culpability for the climate crisis, as well as her own small stake in it. The production reaches a redemptive conclusion.

An undercurrent of magic permeates the show. Kimmings takes to the stage in a witch’s costume, allegorises being burnt at the stake and controls lighting changes with snaps of her finger à la Mary Poppins.

The heartbeat of the production, however, is Kimmings’ immense talent. She is simply irresistible, by turns charming us with song, storytelling, dancing and most of all enthralling us with witty, sardonic asides. The moments of introspection and pathos are punctuated by genuine stillness – it’s disarming. She reveals her truth, her soul is laid bare - before the performative swagger strikes up again.

Bog Witch, adeptly co-directed by Kimmings and Francesca Murray-Fuentes, is a memorable masterclass, expertly delivered by a hugely talented performer.

Traverse Theatre, until 30^th August.