13.74°C Agnes Waterhouse, Ursula Kemp and Elsa all lived in Essex. Centuries after they were accused of witchcraft, their stories are being told through Three Wise Women, a new physical theatre production coming to The Minories Garden as part of this year’s Colchester Fringe Summer Weekender.
Presented by Daisy Diamonds Burlesque Ltd, the production draws on the lives of three women whose knowledge of healing, childbirth and everyday life ultimately led to persecution.
Using movement, ritual and spoken word, Three Wise Women reimagines them not as the accusations that defined them, but as a healer, a midwife and a barmaid whose lives were shaped by extraordinary circumstances.
Hayley Russell, founder and director of Daisy Diamonds Burlesque Ltd, says the production looks beyond the witch trials themselves.
“This is a gripping feminist production inspired by the real stories of Essex women who were prosecuted for witchcraft,” she said. “While it explores the pain and injustice they endured, it also celebrates their resilience with pride and integrity.”
“At its heart, the show is a hopeful reminder that, both then and now, community, connection and standing together are what give us strength.”
Hayley founded Daisy Diamonds to create productions that blend movement, storytelling and performance, creating immersive theatre where physical expression is as important as dialogue.
For those familiar with the Essex witch trials, Three Wise Women offers another perspective on some of the county’s best-known stories. For others, it introduces three women whose lives deserve to be remembered for far more than the accusations made against them.
Three Wise Women will be performed in The Minories Garden on Thursday 23rd July, Saturday 25th July and Sunday 26th July as part of the Colchester Fringe Summer Weekender.
Event Details
Venue: The Minories Garden, 74 High Street, Colchester
Thursday 23 July – 7pm
Saturday 25 July – 7.30pm
Sunday 26 July – 7.30pm
Running time: 40 minutes
Age guidance: 12+
Tickets: £12
Please note that the production contains themes that some audience members may find distressing.
Tickets for Three Wise Women and the full Colchester Fringe Summer Weekender programme are available via the official festival website.
You can read the Keep Colchester Cool guide to the weekender here.
