A thought-provoking play, written by Clitheroe’s Aimee Williamson, will explore the dark tale of the Pendle witches at this summer’s Seek Out music and arts festival in the Gisburn Forest.

Aimee says she feels a strong connection to the Ribble Valley and her powerful solo performances are inspired by ancient folklore, women’s stories, nature and heritage.

She creates her work mainly for outdoor spaces, as well as performing in libraries, community centres and museums.

A thought-provoking play written by Clitheroe’s Aimee Williamson will explore the dark tale of the Pendle witches at this summer’s Seek Out music and arts festival in the Gisburn Forest

“I grew up in Clitheroe and, as a child I heard little snippets about the Pendle Witches, and it struck me as an incredibly sad story,” said Aimee, who trained at the Angela Westwell School of Dance in her hometown and the Royal Ballet School.

“I created the play, Pendle Witch, to explore their story and their experiences, and breathe as much life and humanity into it as I possibly can.

“ I think we still hold the generational trauma of what happened to the Pendle witches because they were victims not villains.”

And in the shadow of Pendle hill, with its stark hillsides and remote hamlets, discord and mistrust were endemic in local society. The Pendle witch trials saw 10 people executed at Gallows Hill, Lancaster, after being convicted of witchcraft in 1612.

The Seek Out festival in the Gisburn Forest is a family friendly weekend, with arts, crafts, well-being workshops and outdoor activities for children.

“Even though society and culture shifts through decades and centuries, human nature often has a habit of repeating itself,” says

Aimee. “The more I read about it the more I see certain parallels with today’s society.Because when people are living through dark

and difficult times some look for other folk, perhaps the most vulnerable or marginalised, to blame.

“The witches were demonised because they lived on the fringes of society.Through the play I want to do justice to the Pendle witches because knowing and understanding the injustices of the past can help influence our future and perhaps make us a kinder society,” added Aimee.

Aimee says she feels a strong connection to the Ribble Valley and her powerful solo performances are inspired by ancient folklore, women’s stories, nature and heritage.

The Seek Out team are keen to promote the festival as a family friendly weekend, with arts, crafts, well-being workshops and outdoor

activities for children.

Darwen Theatre company Beggars Belief will launch the premiere of their latest performance – 50p Love Story – during the three-day festival.

And Seek Out has also teamed up with The Rosemary Well from Clitheroe and mental health and well-being organisation ‘Outdoors

4 All Together’ who will stage forest craft classes - or you can relax on a hammock.

Rosemary Well are a little organisation who promote well-being activities. They will be taking over the yurt at the forest, with

readings, workshops and sound baths (a meditative experience bathed in sound waves). There is also a Saturday morning art tent for kids who

can have a go at printmaking or paint by numbers. Also organised is a mass participation Tai Chi session on the camping field.

The Seek Out festival, which runs from Friday to Sunday, July 24 to 26, line-up includes Blind Yeo, Naima Bock, Suntou Susso and the Gambian Superstars, Brown Wimpenny, Kitchen Sink Band, Lo Vu, Dull and Plonk.Tickets and information from www.seekoutfestival.co.uk Camping is also available at the site.