Critical Praise For Bog Witch, So Far
“haunting and hilarious… This is a climate reckoning of both cosmic and quotidian proportions – and a theatrical time capsule of the way we live now.” ★★★★
Chris Wiegand, The Guardian
“Laced with a sense of primeval magic…irresistible storyteller…no one else makes autobiographical theatre like this.” ★★★★
Holly O’Mahony, The Stage
“a journey as unexpected and essential as it’s hilarious and heartfelt. Mixing songs, stand-up comedy, performance art… Memorable, disturbing and wildly entertaining.” ★★★★
Alun Hood, WhatsOnStage
21st May 2026 – Following a critically acclaimed London run and a 2026 OffWestEnd Award nomination for Innovation, playwright, performer, documentary-maker and screenwriter Bryony Kimmings (I’m a Phoenix, Bitch, Fake It Till You Make It, BBC One’s The Rapture) returns to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for the first time in seven years with the Scottish premiere of Bog Witch. Running from 2nd to 30th August as part of TravFest26 at the Traverse Theatre, Theatre 1 – her first appearance at the venue in over a decade – it forms part of her biggest UK and Ireland tour to date, culminating at Leeds Playhouse on 1st October.
As with all the legendary performance artist’s previous autobiographical shows, Bog Witch follows a part of Kimmings’ real-life story… Using her trademark mix of humour and heart, expect excellent storytelling, mystical projections, epic songs and banging sound, as Bryony charts her journey uprooting her and her son’s life in the city to live in a tumbledown cottage in the wilderness as a last-ditch attempt to be happy and sane. This is the vital story not of dropping out… but of plugging back in, and one that changed absolutely everything for Kimmings.
Bryony Kimmings said: “I love the Edinburgh Fringe so much. Every show I’ve made has come to the festival, and it’s always one of the most special times for me. Such a gift. I’m thrilled to be back at the Traverse for the Scottish premiere of Bog Witch after over a decade away from the venue, and following seven years since I last brought work to the Fringe. I’m really looking forward to seeing local audiences that I’ve known over the years, and no doubt meeting many new people after each show. The incredible thing about the Fringe is the many places they have flocked from. I can’t wait”
Further information and tickets at Traverse.co.uk and BryonyKimmings.com.
Kimmings is inspired by female stories, social taboos, and dismantling power structures. Her TV and film work includes the documentaries The Sex Clinic (C4) and Opera Mums (BBC) and the feature film Last Christmas, which Bryony cowrote with Emma Thompson. In 2021 she made a public vow to only work on things that would help the planet at this time of climate crisis and eco-system collapse. Her latest screen-writing project is The Rapture, an upcoming psychological thriller series for BBC One, starring Ruth Madeley, India Amarteifio, Sam Hazeldine, Jack Farthing, Iwan Rheon, Siena Kelly and Ruth Jones, and based on the bestselling novel of the same name. She is also writing a feature with Climate Spring, Little Red Hen, a comedy eco-horror with folkloric elements.
On-stage, Kimmings has toured internationally with her acclaimed shows – all drawn from real events in her life -performing everywhere from the National Theatre to the Sydney Opera House. Her work as a writer and performer includes Sex Idiot, a tour through Bryony’s true-life sexual misadventures and self-realisations; 7 Day Drunk, a 7 day alcohol experiment, inspired by the historical links between artists and mind enhancing drugs; Credible Likeable Superstar Role Model, made with her nine-year-old niece to challenge the sexualisation of girls in pop culture; Fake It ‘Til You Make It, about clinical depression and men, made in collaboration with her former partner; A Pacifist’s Guide to the War on Cancer, a whistle-stop tour through five unconventional stories about cancer; and I’m a Phoenix, Bitch, a powerful, dark and joyful work about motherhood, heartbreak and finding inner strength.
Bog Witch is created and led by Bryony Kimmings, who serves as Writer, Performer and Director. The original launch creative team includes Co-Director Francesca Murray-Fuentes, Tom Parkinson as Composer, Tom Rogers as Set and Costume Designer, Will Duke as Projection Designer, Guy Hoare as Lighting Designer, Lewis Gibson as Sound Designer, Sarah Blanc as Choreographer, and Gemma Stockwood as Dramaturg, with David Butler as Video Associate and Faith Dodkins as Producer.
Notes to Editors
Critical praise for previous work
“an exhilarating ride via pop video, horror movie, art installation and therapy session… an extraordinary piece of theatre… Kimmings is an artist of exceptional integrity, compassion, imagination and guts” ★★★★★
Miriam Gillinson, The Guardian
“Her extraordinary new show raises the bar considerably; it’s the best thing she’s ever done… Kimmings is the greatest show-woman in town” ★★★★★
Andrew Eaton-Lewis, The Scotsman
“Hilarious, heart-breaking, troubling and inspirational. Kick-ass in all the right ways.” ★★★★★
Time Out
“Bold, brave and very brilliant – don’t miss!” ★★★★★
The Independent
“Deeply affecting”★★★★★
Evening Standard
“Artfully crafted, tightrope walkingly fragile and really rather beautiful”★★★★★
The Herald
CREDITS
Avalon & Tellus Studio present Bog Witch.
Commissioned by Soho Theatre Walthamstow and Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts.
Originated as the monologue “Freakosystem” for the Charleston Festival 2024.
Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
TRAVFEST26 LISTINGS INFORMATION:
Bryony Kimmings: Bog Witch Venue: Traverse 1 Dates: 2nd – 30th August
First Press Performance: 9th August, 11am
Time: Various – please check website Duration: 70 mins
Instagram: @bryonykimmings
Web: www.traverse.co.uk and www.bryonykimmings.com
For further information and publicity enquiries, please contact Victoria Wedderburn at VWedderburn@avalonuk.com / 07557160139 or Lauren McAuliffe at LMcAuliffe@avalonuk.com
