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“Tituba” has been showing every day of the Edinburgh Fringe at 7.15 PM at the C Aurora venue. The one-woman show tells the heartbreaking story that needs to be told. For those who do not know Tituba and her history, she was the first person to be tried and accused at the 1692 Salem witch trials. She was also the first person to make a confession. As history often does, her story was left untold until now. We find her on stage telling her side of what happened all those years ago…
Developed in 2016, the show now brings Tituba’s story to the Edinburgh Fringe 7 years later. This thought provoking performance makes one stop and wonder what else, and who else, history has left out either intentionally or unintentionally. Reminding one of The Crucible and this minor character in it, this story acted out by Faith Martin Abongo portrays all the horrendous things that are too often romanticised about the time, or merely swept under the rug. It’s clear that Tituba needed to be much more than a mere minor character as part of someone else’s story. Faith shows the audience that there was very little that was romantic about this time in history as she guides everyone to where it all began.
Like so many young people, even nowadays, she recalls the exact time that she confessed to witchcraft. She was so young and playing with her slavemaster’s daughter. Tituba shares her indigenous stories with the other young girl. Unlike today though, sharing these stories earns Tituba a whipping from her slavemaster when he finds the young girls engaged in the topic. The first of many consequences to come.
Among delivering a stellar performance as an actress, Faith was also the director and co-producer. From watching her performance on stage with a keen eye not only on her acting but the technical aspects of the show as well, she obviously takes every role seriously. The lighting design was one of the many ways that portrayed this show’s ability to move people through traumatic parts of the story as each line is delivered with decisive impact. Being a sound person myself, I am naturally drawn to notice certain things within the sounds and songs of shows. This was no exception with the hauntingly beautiful pieces chosen by Faith which again aided the performance at certain key parts.
After only this 55 minute show, it is easy to come out of it questioning nearly everything we have read about certain parts of history both recent and long ago. The Africanus World production company, run by Faith Martin Abongo and her brother Erasto Abongo, has several future productions planned for both London and Edinburgh. When these productions will come out and if they are meant for future festivals or particular theatre showings is yet to be confirmed.
Janine has always been a part of music and performing. The first show that inspired her to go into theatre was the Velveteen Rabbit which she saw as a child, and Drew works to keep that magic alive in her work. When Drew was accepted into an internship program for audio engineering at a recording studio, she jumped at the opportunity. That was at the start of 2020, and so much has happened since then, both in her career and in the world. Since then, Drew has taken several opportunities to work at recording studios, concerts, festivals, and even large theatres while spending some time on tour. Drew's favorite by far though, has been the chance to work on Broadways and West End shows, as this was a dream come true. Drew is honoured to get to share these experiences from being inside the entertainment industry.
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