NOW I know a certain section of this country's population is quite familiar with the scourge of witchcraft crimes.

While witchcraft is a common topic of discussion in South Africa, it is important to know that the Western world also had to deal with this scourge during a certain period of history.

There is a play accompanied by good music that has the theme of witchcraft currently running at Promusica Theatre in Roodepoort. Let us look at the background to TheCrucible.

In 1953 Arthur Miller wrote the play as an allegory for McCarthyism; a period in US history during which numerous Americans were named, shamed and ostracised as being communists by a committee led by Senator Joe McCarthy.

The play deals with the shocking Salem witch hunts of 1692, in which innocent people were killed during a wave of hysteria that was started by a handful of young girls. This message of prejudice and mob justice is just as relevant now.

Alby Michaels, known for his incredibly innovative and strongly visual productions, directs this production, which is designed by the talented Kosie Smit. From physical theatre to puppetry, from masks to music, The Crucible promises to be a feast for theatre-goers.

The production's top-drawer slate of actors includes Jacques Bessenger, Candi Brown, Kim Cloete, Christien LeRoux, Clive Gilson, Cindy Swanepoel, Clifford Hughes and Angus Charl Meyer, who goes by the mononym of Angus.

David Boverhoff has written music for the play, almost as if scoring for a film. Every piece is specially composed for the show by this talented artist.