Live theatre artist Bryony Kimmings brings her thought-provoking one-woman show to Soho Theatre Walthamstow for a two-week run.
When on-demand urbanity no longer filled the void in her soul, Kimmings followed her eco-warrior partner to the country to live in a self-sufficient permaculture. We follow her first year adapting to rural life with neither Ocado nor cocktail bars.
Walthamstow’s Soho Theatre, newly reopened in 2025 after major restoration works is a much bigger space than Soho Theatre’s Dean Street venue. At first I wasn’t sure whether Bog Witch worked in such a large venue but much as a fern tendril unfurls itself from a tiny curl to an expansive shady plant, Kimmings’ performance gradually filled the stage with a shadowy roar. The lighting, which starts as mostly a bright white backdrop, evolves through the Bog Witch year to become blacker and scarier, expertly employing gigantic silhouettes. There are a couple of songs – I’d have enjoyed a few more – and a backing track with primary school recorders reminiscent of Britt Eckland’s prancings in The Wicker Man.
Whilst Bog Witch begins with light-hearted humour and folksy silliness, the evening gradually becomes more sombre and turbulent with a Wizard of Oz style storm heralding tragedy. The countryside, we learn, with a climaxing hysteria worthy of Camille Paglia, is no place to shelter from the death and destruction humans are wreaking upon the planet, even if you can still order from the Toast catalogue. I especially appreciated the references to Naomi Klein’s “Doppelganger” evoking the horror of how the actions of our “other self” have a butterfly effect upon nature. Season by season we await whether Bryony will devote herself to a life of repaired shoes, crop rotation and a side hustle of Wicca or return to her Deliveroo-happy city mouse ways.
Highlighting absurdities of modern times, for instance how many food miles there are in a cheese salad sandwich, the plasticity of offerings demanded by harvest festivals, Bog Witch will prompt you to question whether it’s really you that’s crazy or society itself. Kimmings’ portrayal of her experience, at times whimsical, at times harrowing, is a relatable one. Although mostly onstage alone, she brings off-stage characters, a ball of wool black cat, a patchouli scented potential new friend “Aster” and her young son Frank, to life. However, I especially enjoyed the audience participation scene at the end, the various volunteers hamming up their roles as badger, mackerel and mushrooms at a pagan festival brought laughter and rapturous applause.
The merch stand’s Bog Witch slogan t-shirts will appeal to the strongly female audience and there’s a limited-edition Bog Witch brew on sale at the bar too. On press night, a gift of flower bombs in a small envelope was much appreciated. May Walthamstow burst into flower with Bog Witch blooms – and hopefully, as she has been working with Soho Theatre for 15 years, we will be treated to more work by Bryony Kimmings in Walthamstow again soon.
Bog Witch runs at Soho Theatre Walthamstow until 25 October.
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