Coven at Kiln Theatre Review
Written by Eleanor V for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
The musical does include misogyny, witch prosecution, imprisonment, state violence and murder, execution by hanging, classism, rape, childbirth, child abuse, PTSD and child loss.
This production also includes loud noises, high volume, amplification, haze, low fog, flashing lights and pyrotechnics.
Coven is a brand-new musical by Rebecca Brewer and Daisy Chute making its debut at Kiln theatre. Following an attempt to launch at Edinburgh, thwarted by Covid, and seven years in the making, this creative team have produced something visually stunning and dramatic which many will enjoy.
Though the focus of Coven is on a group of women, we closely follow the life of Jenet, a notable woman accused of witchcraft. As she is thrown into a jail cell, we are introduced to a group of other women accused of the same. Bonded by their shared fate, there are numerous ties which bind them and others which threaten to tear them apart.
The musical opens eerily with the Prologue and the entire cast dimly lit. This includes the ensemble cast, providing the orchestration from the sides of the stage, who are dressed traditionally to fit the piece. They also interact with the central cast throughout the show. This swiftly sets the tone and gives a sense of the rural setting and the time the musical is set. From this, the tension breaks as the main ensemble is introduced through spoken word and several varied songs. The way the audience is thrown straight into the narrative is effective and allows us to slowly find out the backstory of each character, and how they are intertwined. I was immediately drawn to Gabrielle Brooks’ performance as Jenet, and she carried the emotional core of the show brilliantly. I loved the twists and turns of Brewer’s narrative, which made the revelations all the more hard-hitting and emotional.
Read more: Interview with Jacinta Whyte, Coven at Kiln Theatre
Coven is filled with plenty of memorable and emotive musical numbers. One minute, the audience was filled with laughter, the next, we were visibly moved. The triple header of ‘Rose’s Song,’ ‘Redemption’ and ‘Care’ was just incredible and gave the perfect opportunity for the actors to show off their amazing vocal talents. Allyson Ava-Brown as Nell was strong and captivating while Lauryn Redding as Rose was deeply moving. I only wished that the audience were invited to applaud to provide some emotion relief and to show the actors the gratitude they deserved. This also meant in later parts I was somewhat cautious to applaud when invited, as it was unclear when a pause was being provided to do so. And as wonderful as the songs are, I do feel like some moments could have been conveyed better if they were spoken rather than sung.
As the second half begins and the imposing stage is re-set, and I was intrigued to find out how far each woman was willing to go for self-preservation. But I was then met with more levity than I was expecting. This brought a lot of lightness and humour while conveying the absurdity of thinking at the time, but it would have been stronger re-opener for me if we were flung straight back into the drama.
Here, there are even more moments for the cast the excel. Diana Vickers is consistently brilliant as Edmund, funny but still believable, and Jacinta Whyte as Maggie heightens the mysticism of the piece with her excellent vocals. I loved the song ‘Burn our Bodies’ and felt the show could have concluded with this. The final act, following this number, explored themes around mother and children which didn’t connect with me – although it may well do with others. Regardless, the final number beautifully brings the show to a close.
Overall, Coven is a striking and emotionally charged new musical, written by women for women. While some tonal shifts and choices at its climax didn’t fully land for me, the production’s strongest moments are incredibly impactful, making it a compelling and interesting piece that many will connect with.
Coven is playing at Kiln Theatre from the 14th November 2025 – 17th January 2026.
★ ★ ★
