Which Witch is Which?

Swindon actress Jane Dale is taking the part of a witch in Wyrd Sisters this week, and so went in search of advice – from a real witch.

Sally Williams, a Wiccan (modern-day witch) from Highworth, first met up with the Old Town Theatre Company last year when she became a rat handler in their production of 1984, so she again agreed to lend her expertise.

"I read the book of Wyrd Sisters and Terry Pratchett, who wrote it, obviously has some knowledge of Wicca as his witches are founded on the wise women of the forest who grew herbs and prescribed medicines rather than the over-dramatised stereotype witches," said Sally.

OTTC are presenting Wyrd Sisters at Swindon's Arts Centre, Devizes Road, Old Town, tonight [8 October 2005].

Jane was both excited and a little apprehensive about meeting a real witch.

"I'd never met a witch before but Sally was very normal, just a mum and laid back."

Sally has a lorry driver husband, Richard and two children, Frankie, 12, and Tilly, eight. They all belong to the Wicca faith.

She gave several tips to the actresses including how to use a cauldron for scrying.

"It is the same as using a crystal ball; you look into a cauldron full of water and let your mind wander, making what you will of the shapes you see," she said.

Scrying is meditation, or what the gypsies call fortune telling.

The urban witch also told the actresses about the significance of occult jewels. The pentangle with its coiled snake represents the circle of life and the snake shedding its skin reflects the idea of renewal.

She also explained the basic ideas of paganism which has a strong following in Swindon.

At a recent pagan conference, more than 100 people turned up to express their views.

"I told the three actresses that witches were, and are, just ordinary people who rely on Headology, which is the magic of a personal belief, such as willing something to happen and positive thinking, rather than potions and lotions," said Sally.

OTTC needed to bring a balance between identifying the witches as witches without causing any Wiccans offence. "The long black cloaks, cauldrons and broomsticks are fine but not pointy hats and warty noses, indicative of evil in fairytales. They [OTTC] have got it pretty much OK from what I saw," said Sally.

Jane, Rosemary Curtis and Clare Rasheed, who play the Wyrd Sisters, were delighted with Sally's help.

Jane said, "She had some good ideas and we all have ill perceived ideas of witchcraft, so it was to learn that paganism is a legitimate sort of faith. It is a shame that there are so many bad connotations around it."

The Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett may dispel some of the myths tonight [8 October 2005], from 7.30pm. Tickets are £6, £4 concessions from 01793 614837.

Swindon actresses have called upon the services of a real wicca woman to help take the role of witches in their production of Wyrd Sisters this week.

Actress Jane Dale had never met a real witch before and was both excited and apprehensive meeting Sally Williams from Highworth.

"She really is lovely and gave us some good ideas," said Jane.

"She taught me that paganism is multicultural and multi faceted and a legitimate set of beliefs. It is a shame it has all the bad connotations around it."

Jane, from the Old Town Theatre Company, takes the part of Nanny Ogg in Terry Pratchett's play. Nanny Ogg has a vast number of children and grandchildren, has been married three times and is totally practical about magic.

"The witches are part of everyday life and magic helps with the humps and bumps of living, just nudging it along," said the actress.

Jane, Rosemary Curtis and Clare Rasheed star in the OTTC's latest production and Sally gave them a few insights into the reality of "wicca", modern day witchcraft and the truth behind the myths.

Sally said: "Wicca is a middle English word that literally means white witch but we don't use that because that implies there is the other side – the black witches in fairy stories which of course have been around for a millennium."

She taught the actresses about scrying, which is simply meditation or in gypsy language, fortune telling.

Sally said: "Scrying is a focus for meditation such as a crystal ball where you let your inner mind make what it will of the shapes you see. Some use a black mirror and some a cauldron filled with water to give a dark, shiny surface. The OTTC witches are going to use that in the play."

The play is adapted by Stephen Briggs and according to Jane, rehearsals were a barrel of laughs.

"It is a good adaptation and it overthrows the concept of evil witches plotting and scheming and shows modern witchcraft is a force for good," said Jane.

The story of Wyrd Sisters is about a Duke and his rapacious wife who steal the throne of the kingdom.

The witches try to restore the rightful heir but the duke decides to rewrite history to stop them interfering.

Wyrd Sisters runs from tomorrow [Thursday, 6 October 2005] to Saturday at 7.30pm in Arts Centre, Old Town. Tickets are £6, from 01793 614837.