Compositor E
18 February 2023
Vault Festival
5.0 out of 5.0 stars
This one took a bit of an unexpected, though not unappreciated, turn.
Compositor E is set in 1623 London, in a printing house where a young apprentice works on setting a manuscript of Macbeth for print. The apprentice, John, is completely fascinated by the work, but clearly has trauma in the past that affects him still. As he is faced with the witches in the manuscript, and some major changes he wasn’t expecting, his past catches up with him and the fate of his mother brought to light.
The rich storytelling of Compositor E shows a different side to often heard stories of witch hunts, focusing on the effects on those left behind, those who couldn’t save their loved ones, those made tools of the prosecution unwillingly.
Between physical theatre, dramatic reading, humour and unnerving energy, Compositor E is a beautifully intense short play that I cannot recommend enough!