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The Welkin, a moving story about empathy, murder and motherhood

The "I.L. Caragiale" National Theatre in Bucharest announces the premiere of The Welkin, by Lucy Kirkwood, which will take place on December 10, 2022, at 7.30 pm, at the Atelier Hall.
The play directed by Gelu Colceag tells a suspenseful story about a conviction in 18th century Britain, which the author turns into a relevant and acute commentary on today's society, on prejudice, inequality, discrimination and the struggle for power.
Although a firm admirer of Sidney Lumet's film, Lucy Kirkwood rejects out of hand any resemblance to the famous 12 Angry Men, even though her play also deals with the guilt of one person around whom 12 others gather - all women, called matrons at the time (respectable, married women, mothers and skilled midwives).
In an era when women were defined only by their role as mothers or wives, when Sally Poppy is sentenced to be hanged, a "jury of matrons" is convened in a small British town. The guilty verdict has been pronounced, but it is up to the matrons whether her sentence will be death or deportation - if the accused is found to be pregnant. This was the only instance in which women had the right to decide.
The writer's interest is to penetrate the intimate life of each of them, with unexpected details and womanhood secrets, desires, frustrations and ambitions. The Welkin portrays these mysteries with psychological finesse, seeing "how complicated it is to feel empathy for the other and how the patriarchal system tries to suppress empathy. Because it's easier to label and put people into categories, and that way difficult decisions can be made more easily," Kirkwood stated for The Play Podcast in 2021.
"The Welkin" is a play of magnificent breadth, depth and complexity" (Financial Times). And perhaps even more than that, "this is the unwritten story of the maternal experience, delivered with a refreshing candor, as of sisters cheering each other on, and that is extraordinary (Telegraph), the play "constantly pushes the boundaries, cheekily raising its gaze towards the sky" (exeuntmagazine.com). "Above all, this is about the stories. Stories that gradually reveal themselves to us, with some personal revelations woven into the texture of these women's histories, with a profound contemporary relevance. This play is, beyond the significance of the subject matter, often funny, and towards the end, extremely moving" (whatsonstage.com).
"The Welkin" is a show that has the energy of a thriller, the tension of a courtroom drama, the irreverent humor of a smart black comedy, and the profound power of vulnerability. The show's 16 characters, 13 of whom are played by actresses (!), perform on the set by Ștefan Caragiu and wearing costumes by Liliana Cenean.
Cast: Aylin Cadîr / Alexandra Sălceanu, Tania Popa, Ilinca Goia, Mirela Oprișor, Erika Băieşu, Medeea Marinescu, Raluca Petra / Magda Catone, Ana Ciontea, Rodica Ionescu, Carmen Ungureanu, Brânduşa Mircea, Victoria Dicu, Lamia Beligan, Marius Rizea, Mihai Calotă, Daniel Hara / Mihai Munteniţă, Marcela Mateescu. The sound design by Călin Grigoriu, the scenic dance by Roxana Colceag and the neat light design by Bogdan Golumbeanu and Laurențiu Iordache contribute to the production.
The next performance will take place on December 29, 2022 at 7.30 pm. Tickets are available at the NTB Box Office and online on www.tnb.ro.
Translated by Andreea Codrea-Boeriu