“Based on the true story of a tarot-reading lesbian forced from her home by Christian neighbours likely in a cult, Gretchen Wylder’s darkly comedic one-woman show explores witches as healers, the patriarchal systems that burned them and the modern dangers of organised religion.
Living a double life – reading tarot in Salem while living in a creepy cottage town run by zealots – her personal horror show becomes a fierce reclamation of spirituality.
Reinterpreting Biblical women’s stories and exposing the ongoing persecution of the divine feminine, all while trying not to get burned at the stake.”
Where: Lime Studio at Greenside @ George Street
When: 1-23 Aug
Ticket link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/2025-salem-witch-trial
You’ve utilised your own experiences as a ‘tarot-reading lesbian forced from her home by Christian neighbours likely in a cult’. Was it easy to build a show from this?
Honestly, the show wrote itself in a lot of ways. The story is based on actual events that happened to me.
When I was living through this nightmare, I would tell my therapist or close friends what was going on and everyone responded with “This sounds like a freakin Netflix show.”
So I just put pen to paper and basically trauma-dumped in order to get my mind out of panic mode and into a space of control over the experience.
But I wanted an angle that also focused on healing, as all of my work does in some way. So I added perspectives of how Christianity is inherently patriarchal and has erased divine femininity, even in its own scriptures.
I align that with how I was treated by my cultish Christian neighbors and I reclaim those lost feminist Biblical teachings that have been hidden from us.
Your show is a dark comedy that reinterprets Biblical women’s stories and highlights religious persecution of women and LGBTQ+ people. What should audiences expect?
Audiences should expect one hell of an insane ride. The show is a mix of comedy, horror, healing, religious trauma, queer rage, and divine feminine uprising.
There’s also interesting viewpoints on witchcraft and what it’s like to be a professional tarot reader in “Witch City” aka Salem, Massachusetts.
How did you make a start as a performer? Do you find Fringe festivals inspiring?
I’ve been performing my whole life. After moving to NYC 15 years ago, I focused mainly on musical theater.
I actually was in a production of Rent that came to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2016 and I remember diving into the fringe world thinking, “One day, I’m going to bring my own show here” — and here I am!
What are you looking forward to the most in Edinburgh?
I love the magic of Edinburgh. I love the energy of the Fringe and the incredible people who are all so passionate about their art!
I’m looking forward to connecting with folks from all over the world and being inspired by them.
What’s next for the show after Fringe?
No idea… I’m hoping that someone sees its value and I get to tour with it or have an Off-Broadway run.
Eventually, I’d love to see my story adapted for film or TV.