A PLAY about the Salem witch trials arrives in the county town this week.

The Crucible will be performed by Dorchester Drama at the Corn Exchange on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Dorchester Drama is taking theatre-goers back to Salem, to Puritan New England in 1692, where sickness was attributed to the work of the devil, and accusations of witchcraft were used to settle scores.

The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, was inspired by the McCarthy era when a fear of communist influence in 1950s America led to obsessive investigations to root out communist ‘subversives’.

The play is being performed by a large cast ranging in age from nine years old to those enjoying retirement.

Lee Stroud, who has met Arthur Miller, will direct this Dorchester Drama production.

n The Crucible will be performed by Dorchester Drama at the Corn Exchange, Dorchester, on Thursday November 16, Friday November 17 and Saturday November 18. Evening performances will be each night at 7pm and there will be a Saturday matinee at 2pm. Tickets will be available from Trinity Stores, Trinity Street, Dorchester, or from the box office on 01305 268692. Tickets are £9 in advance and £10 on the door and cost £7 for under 18s.