This amateur production is a 2-act play (about 2 hr 35 min) with an intermission (about 15 min).
Content advisory: violence, misogyny, racism, discussions of death/hanging
Age advisory: 12 years and older
From the director:
Directing The Crucible has been a dream of mine for many years. I am thrilled that you get to see it now, with all the creative passion and effort that has been put in by myself, my excellent production team, and our marvellous cast.
The Crucible is a play that grapples with the explosion and fallout that results from a repressive, fearful society. As it is so titled, the play shows what can happen when several dangerous elements are thrown together and heated by frenzied hysteria. Misogyny, religious fundamentalism, and a distrust of anyone considered to be outside of the rigid social norm combine to make the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. A foundational moment in North American history, its message remains pertinent as ever.
Thank for for being part of the audience and helping bringing it all to life!
Niamh Merritt
Meet the Cast
Photos by: Chris Jones
Andrew Webster as Ezekiel Cheever
Andrew Webster is a British-American actor based in the Netherlands. He restarted his acting career with community theatre only a year ago, but has been performing in InPlayers productions continuously since his return. He portrayed Samuel Leibowitz in The Day They Kidnapped the Pope and Hwel in Wyrd Sisters, and is excited to continue his run with this performance of The Crucible.
Asma Said as Susanna Walcott
Asma’s journey with theatre began in childhood, when she made her whole school laugh by playing Elnoon Elkebeer, “the big kiddo”, a playful role mimicking adults with innocent mischief. Years later, during the 2011 Egyptian revolution, she performed in front of thousands of students on campus, sharing a monologue she wrote after a close friend was shot. It was her way of processing grief and speaking for those who couldn’t. Since then, she’s shown up in small ways: writing, dancing, clowning in the streets, disappearing after every glimpse of light. Theatre, to her, is like El-Naddaha: a mythical voice calling softly from the water. Beautiful, dangerous, and hard to resist. She’s not sure where it will lead. But this time, she’s listening.
Ceci Rihet as Betty Parris
Ceci's liking for theater and cinema world arrived in her young years and has not left her since, even if this will be her first time in Amsterdam! She excited for the journey, people, and doing Betty's screams justice.
Chris Jones as Herrick
Chris is back on stage for The Crucible after five and a half years away from acting, having previously sung and danced their way to the Edinburgh Fringe and across much of England in 2018 and 2019 with The Cabinet of Madame Fanny Du Thé. Off stage you may find them at their day job arguing with computers, and at any other moment they’ll be doing photography, cooking, writing, gardening or even working backstage.
Christine Blakeley as Rebecca Nurse
Christine has been with InPlayers many, many years. She has worked backstage and numerous times on stage, she has directed plays for the InPlayers too. She is looking forward to portraying Rebecca Nurse.
Christopher Grabski as John Proctor
Christopher Grabski can always be found lurking around in a dark theatre somewhere in the world. As a teenager he had an after-school job showing people to their seats where he got to watch theatre every night - and it all went downhill from there. Chris is an actor, writer, director and lighting designer and will reluctantly do sound if you ask him nicely. He has an academic background in theatre studies which has played a starring role in so many of the rejection letters he’s received throughout his career. But in theatres, recent sightings in Amsterdam have included: Roland in Constellations (Downstage Left); Mickey in Blood Brothers (HEA Productions); Cecil in The Importance of Being Ernest (QETC); Various roles in Couch (Leiden English Theatre); and as the lighting designer for La Cage Aux Folles (QETC) & Wyrd Sisters (InPlayers).
Fae Rinaldo as Elizabeth Proctor
The Crucible is one of the first plays Fae was introduced to as a teenager, and with her a fascination in the history of witch-hunts and its continued relevance today. She’s excited to bring this play to stage again with InPlayers at Mikes Badhuis. Fae is regularly involved in community based theatre, acting technique at Mulholland Academy and recently worked with Wonderhouse Boutique Theatre on several productions.
George Hansel as Francis Nurse
George, an expat from the U.S., has spent his life in one or another aspect of the theatre. From working with children, teens and amateurs to his time spent in the professional world. He has produced, directed, performed, and worked as a lighting designer and technical director throughout a large number of diverse opportunities. That has seen him divide his time between being an artistic-director for three different theatre companies, directing everything from opera to children’s theater, and from musicals to film work.
Jared Penner as Judge Danforth
After years of being a dedicated patron of the theater in both Canada and the Netherlands, Jared ignited his passion for community stage productions here in Amsterdam in 2019. He first took part in Allo Allo through Mike's Badhuistheater, then participated in various one act plays with Down Stage Left. He most recently channeled his inner New York City cop in a Playhouse Theatergroup production of The Odd Couple. He is excited to be a part of his first InPlayers production The Crucible, exploring the prideful wrath of Judge Danforth.
Keith F Day as Reverend Parris
Keith is an actor and a Drama teacher from England. He has appeared in QETC's The Importance of Being Earnest, Happily Ever After's Into the Woods and recently played the role of Christopher Barlow in Dancing With Daffodils for Strike Me Pink. Having directed for InPlayers and appeared in many of their productions, he is extremely proud to be working with them again on this production of The Crucible.
Ken Kitchen as Giles Corey
Ken Kitchen has been a member of the In-Players more years than he can remember. He has played various roles including a dog, a wizard, a witch, a detective and various homicidal maniacs.
Lydia Wapshaka as Tituba
Originally Nigerian but grew up in Bahrain, I’ve been very involved in the arts all my life, performing all through high school with my favorite role being Maybelle Motormouth in Hairspray and deeply involved in the music scene through my gap year. Although I did take a step back once arriving in Amsterdam 3 years ago, I’m glad to be be revisiting my passion on the stage after so long and hope to do my role as Tituba justice.
Lynn Vogel as Abigail Williams
Lynn has been involved in (musical) theatre since a very young age, with credits both on- and backstage. She's thrilled to have been active within the Amsterdam theatre communities for the past 2 years, during which she's had the opportunity to work on various amazing projects: The Addams Family (costuming), She Kills Monsters (acting), Blood Brothers (acting), and La Cage aux Folles (costuming), Wyrd Sisters (both).
Patrick Annez de Taboada as Judge Hathorne
Patrick has been acting for over a decade now. He cut his teeth in the Austrian theatre scene, performing works from Shakespeare, Molière, Nestroy and Wilde. He has written and performed in a number of original plays, too. The Crucible will be Patrick's second on-stage appearance with InPlayers, having played Tomjon in Wyrd Sisters earlier this year.
Rochelle Schukking as Martha Corey / Sarah Good
Meet Rochelle Schukking, a primary school teacher with a passion for performing. After playing Vera in She Kills Monsters, she’s excited to return to the stage in The Crucible, voicing Martha Corey and portraying Sarah Good, one of the first accused in the Salem witch trials. Rochelle is enjoying the challenge of a more serious role and exploring the history behind the play. She recently became a mum in January and is thrilled to be part of this powerful production.
Rose Thomas as Mary Warren
Rose Thomas has been involved in theater in school throughout their childhood in France, participating in classic French plays such as Molière's Le Médecin Malgré Lui as well as in original plays written by their English department such as a reimagined version of the Dead Poets Society. More recently, they acted in Wyrd Sisters, which was their first InPlayers production.
Sasha Bovykina as Mercy Lewis
Sasha Bovykina has been participating in theatre both in their early childhood in Russia at the Russian Speech Theatre Centre, as well as in high school theatre in Austria, in the productions of plays and musicals such as All Shook Up!. They are excited to make their acting debut with InPlayers in The Crucible.
Sam Aronson as Judge Hathorne (Friday & Saturday Matinee)
Sam moved from the USA to Amsterdam in 2022 so that he could better pursue his creative passions. He is very excited to be performing on stage with InPlayers for the second time! When not acting, Sam writes short fiction. You can see some of his quirkily optimistic work @glasshalffullofwhat.
Sean Olson-Roy as Thomas Putnam & Voice of Cow
Originally from the US, Sean is an actor and singer based in Amsterdam since retiring from corporate life in 2019. He has performed with InPlayers, Playhouse, and could be seen most recently in Happily Ever After Productions (HEAP) run of Once Upon a Mattress. He is thrilled to be a part of bringing this iconic play and its message to the stage. Sean can be seen as Ram's Dad in HEAP's production of Heathers, The Musical in June, July, & September. When not on stage, Sean is a husband, a father to two now all-grown-up wonderful boys, a live-in servant to two chill-huahuas, a volunteer, an avid traveler and a postcard scribe.
Virginia Palomares Cabeza as Ann Putnam / Goody Osburn
Originally from Spain, Virginia is a scientist and project manager by day, and a performer by night. Her first role was a cheerleader in her school production of High School Musical. Since then, her love for performing has only grown. She has been seen in performances and showcases in Spain and in the Netherlands, where she is also an active member of Acting Club Netherlands (ACN). Most recent credits include Roxie Hart in Chicago and Serena in Legally Blonde (HEA productions bootcamps), Nurse Flinn in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (ETU), and Miranda in The Tempest (Parnassos Cultural Center). Furthermore, she proudly performs yearly with her ballet school in Amsterdam. She is thrilled to be part of the fabulous cast of The Crucible as Ann Putnam.
Zachary Hart as Reverend Hale
Zachary Hart is an Australian actor who studied at the Stella Adler Art of Acting studio in the United States. He has been in numerous productions in Melbourne and Los Angeles. This is Zachary’s first production in The Netherlands and with InPlayers.
Crew
Director: Niamh Merritt
Assistant Director: Kirsten Snijders-Blok
Production Lead, Stage Manager: Rae Gerritsen
Assistant Stage Manager: Willem Gerritsen
Committee Liaison: George Hansel
Costume Designer: Lynn Vogel
Costume Assistant: Ángela Sedeño Cacciatore
Costume Assistant: Jack Tait
Lighting Designer & Technician: Yann Belin
Set & Props: Sam Aronson
Set & Props: Kyra van Gilse
Marketing: Gaia Temin
The InPlayers are a passionate group of individuals from all over the world - a melting pot of creative minds. We vary in age, level of experience, mind-set and of course opinion. Add this to the dramatic and emotional theatre environment, and you get an explosive mix of free spirits, strong personalities, fierce ambitions, creative expression and powerful energy. We are proudly Amsterdam's oldest English language theatre group.
