The world was first warned about witches in print in the tenth century. The Malleus Maleficarum became hugely popular on publication in 1486 with its ‘helpful’ description of how to spot and punish witchy women. King James VI of Scotland contributed another tome, the Daemonologie, after witches reportedly attempted to kill him in 1589.
But women have been accused of witchcraft for all time. Older women. Childless women. Friendless women. Women who looked a bit odd. Women who seemed not to want to conform. Women who were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Baba Yaga stories - about the witch who lived in a house on chicken legsfirst gripped our collective imagination at least 300 years ago and continue to fascinate perhaps because of their delicious ambivalence.
Edinburgh Graduate Theatre Group (EGTG) was created by graduates of Edinburgh University. They sought interesting scripts – stories that confront and confound. Many years were rounded off with a big boisterous Christmas show that was less about the glitter and more about the eternal tussle between right and wrong.
We are honoured to still be making theatre in their name, seventy years on. Plopping this three centuries’ old witch into a contemporary Christmas Eve felt like a fitting tribute to all of the group’s members, many of whom are now sadly missed.
This production is dedicated to all those I’ve had the pleasure of acting alongside and being directed, costumed, prompted or taught how to direct by (thanks, Christelle). baba is for Jo and Joyce and Fraser and Kate and Cecil and Colin and Fizz and Wig and Susan and Norah and Alex and Alastair and Roly and Iain. I’d hoped Iain would be one of our three wise men. He’ll always be one of my three wise men. To these fond friends and all who made EGTG before them, I thank you.
Claire Wood
Credits
Cast
Baba: Esther Gilvray
Anichka: Ola Olsinova
Merle: Wendy Brindle
Raven: Hilary Spiers
Robin: Madison Turner
Tetyorka: Evgenia Kochkina
Dmitri D’Yavol: Paul Arendt
Sasha: Flora Murray
Yuri: Flynn Colquhoun
Dog: Gordon Craig
Ivan: Dan Sutton
Marinka: Ciara McGuinness
Serina: Rosella Elphinstone
Valentyna: Eirini Stamkou
Vasilia: Heidi Fieldhouse
Doc / Bill: Brian Thomson
Haut Utility / Bert: Richard Godden
Jenn Erous: Rebekka Puderbaugh
Lady Farmer: Claire Morand
Lucky: Aoife Colquhoun
Max: Colin Thompson
Miss Fi Line: Maria Rasinkangas
Miss Honey Suckle: Wendy Mathison
Tabby Let: Serena Park
Taffy Ta / Ben: Brian Neill
Music
Accordion: James Hawker
Bass/Guitar: Tristan Wyles
Piano: Neil Colquhoun
Trumpet/Violin: Laura Cross Team
Directors: Hannah Bradley Croall & Claire Wood
Stage Manager: Lois Adams
Props: Janette Murphy
Design: Jennie Landels
Set builder: Richard Spiers
Set painter: Kate Stephenson
Lighting Design: Rhona Sampson
Sound Technician: Ellie Tullis
Poster Design: Paul Arendt
Programme Design: Adelle Ansara
With Special Thanks to Adelle Ansara, Nicola Clark-Tonberg, Beck Elphinstone, Ross Hope, Kev’s Class, Martin Foreman, Robin Mair
Photography, Gregor McElvogue, Doreen McGillivray, Michael Mulligan, Cari Silver, University of Edinburgh
Community Access
Facts About Baba Yaga
Baba Yaga appears in hundreds of recorded folktales, beginning in the late eighteenth century, in virtually all parts of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, Slovakia and other Eastern and Central European countries.
The first published version of her story featured Baba bundling a visiting boy into the oven, cooking and eating him. That was 1820.
A Russian proverb states that “the oven is our mother”. Lots has been written about the meaning inherent in all aspects of the folk tales, along with the ambiguity of Baba as a character: in many stories, she behaves in ways that are both good and bad.
In a nasty children’s song, Baba cooks and eats her own leg.
In most versions of the story, her house sits atop chicken legs. In some versions, perhaps thanks to poet Nikolai Nekrasov who penned Baba Yaga the Bony Leg in 1840, Baba herself has a (sinister) single chicken leg.
Mussorgsky dedicated a movement in his 1874 Pictures at an Exhibition to Baba's "Hut on Chicken Legs".
Fast forward and John Wick / Keanu Reeves in the popular movie franchise is nicknamed Baba Yaga.
Best selling ‘Divergent’ author, Veronica Roth’s newest book, When Among Crows, is about a hunter tasked with killing the legendary witch.
Baba Yaga continues to be a source of fascination today.
About the Cast
Paul Arendt as Dmitri
Paul Arendt trained as an actor and director before deciding he'd rather not live in a permanent state of penury and anxiety. These days he draws monsters for a living and does theatre for fun.
Wendy Brindle as Merle
Wendy has been with EGTG since 2012, from Shakespeare to Almodovar. She enjoys performing cmfwood's work, and is of the opinion that smashing the patriarchy is a Very Good Idea.
Aoife Colquhoun as Lucky
Aoife makes her second appearance for EGTG in baba. She debuted in rock in 2022, and has since played Hortensia in Musical Mill’s production of Matilda the Musical.
Flynn Colquhoun as Yuri Flynn Colquhoun makes his second appearance for EGTG in baba. He debuted in rock in 2022, and has since played the Native Chief in Dunbar Primary School’s Peter Pan.
Gordon Craig as Dog
Gordon has performed in many shows with EGTG and directed others. This is the first dog puppet he has made and he has enjoyed bringing it to life. Woof.
Rosella Elphinstone as Serina Rosella is an Edinburgh-based actor and aerial acrobat. Notable roles include Peter Pan and Elizabeth Bennet. She has appeared in EGTG's Christmas Carol and Chalk and is excited to have returned.
Heidi Fieldhouse as Vasilia
Heidi acted with EGTG in The Lark (2019), A Christmas Carol (2022) and most recently, crackers (Fringe 2023). She loves the message in baba and hopes everyone will learn from it.
Esther Gilvray as Baba
Esther has recently been seen in The Fastest Clock in the Universe (EGTG) and How I Learned to Drive (Arkle). She is so uncontrollably inordinately excited to be part of baba in EGTG’s 70th year!
Richard Godden as Haut Utility / Bert
Richard has been with EGTG since 2008, and this is the umpteenth time he has appeared with them. In real life he is exactly like Bert and is not a patriarch.
Evgenia Kochkina as Tetyorka
Evgenia is a complete newcomer to the stage and is excited to make her debut with EGTG. She has a personal connection with the play as she grew up in Siberia surrounded by stories about Baba Yaga and the other wonders of Slavic fairy tales.
Wendy Mathison as Miss Honey Suckle
Wendy joined EGTG in 1968, and has acted in many notable productions. She has directed several EGTG shows. She is delighted that age hasn’t yet precluded her from treading the boards.
Ciara McGuinness as Marinka
Ciara graduated from the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, later honing her craft at Screen Project Dublin & the Focus Theatre under the late Tim McDonald. Ciara is excited to be returning to acting after a long break.
Claire Morand as Lady Farmer
Claire started acting when she first came to Scotland as a way to improve her English. She has now caught the bug forever and most recently directed Taiwan for EGTG at the SCDA One Act Festival 2024.
Flora Murray as Sasha
Flora last appeared on stage as a frog in a play by Aristophanes. Ten years later, she is delighted to be playing a human. If Sasha was real, she thinks they would be good friends.
Brian Neill as Taffy Ta / Ben
Brian first appeared for EGTG in Vinegar Tom in 1985 and more recently in crackers. This year he appeared in a number of shows for Arkle, including Cyrano de Bergerac (April 2024).
Ola Olsinova as Anichka
Ola is a Slovak actor living in Edinburgh whose current retirement plan is to become the next Baba Yaga; forage for herbs, make teas, and obliterate her enemies.
Serena Park as Tabby Let
Serena is a writer/actor/director performing in the Edinburgh and Grahamstown festivals. She has been with EGTG since 2023 where she took part in the 2024 One Act Play festival. She is currently peddling fudge and judging villagers in baba.
Rebekka Puderbaugh as Jenn Erous
More of a comedian than an actor, more of a clown than a comedian, Rebekka has previously appeared on stage with EGTG in Catch-22 and The Lark.
Maria Rasinkangas as Miss Fi Line
This is Maria's first time performing with EGTG. She is excited to be playing Miss Fi Line - Maria loves cats and has often been described as catlike herself.
Hilary Spiers as Raven Actor, director and playwright. Since arriving in 2020, Hilary has directed three Fringe productions and a film for EGTG. This is the first time she’s appeared on stage for them.
Dan Sutton as Ivan
Dan is delighted to be working with Claire Wood and EGTG again after performing in rock, skirt and Julius Caesar. With EGTG since at least 2011, Dan enjoys Shakespeare, new writing and improv.
Eirini Stamkou as Valentyna
Eirini Stamkou has been performing with EGTG since 2019, appearing in Catch-22, Tunnel Vision, Bloody Wimmin and rock. When not on stage, she brews practical potions in the lab.
Brian Thomson as Doc / Bill
Brian’s theatre focus originated in the Stirling area, but has been in Edinburgh for the last couple decades with EGTG and Leitheatre. His favourite roles have been in Jerusalem, Wonderful World of Dissocia, Festen, and most recently Taiwan in this year’s One-Act Festival.
Colin Thompson as Max
Colin is returning with maximum delight to the stage after a decade, previously appearing with EGTG in Romeo & Juliet, Julius Caesar and as a drunk chef in Festen.
Madison Turner as Robin
A graduate of QMU, Madison has been behind the scenes as a play & screenwriter and on stage with Arkle’s Around The World in 80 Days (Fringe 2024). This is her first show with EGTG and she is enthusiastic about the play’s themes of folklore and witches!
About the Band
Neil Colquhoun on Piano
Neil Colquhoun is the musical director for baba. He has previously been involved with EGTG in both a musical and acting capacity, most recently acting in rock, scripted and directed by Claire Wood.
Laura Cross on Violin & Trumpet
Laura performs regularly both on and under the stage with a number of theatre companies in and around Edinburgh. Having last worked with EGTG on The Lark in 2019, she is delighted to be back this year for baba.
Tristan Wyles on Bass & Guitar
Returning to EGTG after The Lark in 2019, with a background in youth theatre and music, Tristan is excited to bring some festive energy to the stage.
James Hawker on Accordion
Jim plays accordion with Lydia Bennett as well as The Stockbridge Rendezvous Gypsy Jazz band. He’s being playing piano/keys for 30 years, five years ago he decided he liked the idea of a box you can squeeze, with piano keys, that makes a pleasant wheezy sound and doesn’t need an amp!
A Glimpse Into Rehearsals...
Keep Exploring the World of Baba Yaga
EGTG have put together a curated reading list, designed for those captivated by the intriguing legend of Baba Yaga. Whether you're a seasoned admirer or new to the lore, these selections will deepen your appreciation and understanding of Baba Yaga's enduring cultural impact.
Non-Fiction
Rebel Folklore – empowering tales of spirits, witches and other misfits from Anansi to Baba Yaga
Icy Sedgwick
Baba Yaga: the wild witch of the East in Russian Fairy Tales
Sibelan Forrester
Baba Yaga: the ambiguous mother and witch of the Russian Folktale
Andreas Johns
Novels
The first is a zany reinterpretation of Baba’s story for adults. The second is a beautiful exploration of how Baba Yaga helped a twelve year old girl deal with her grief.
Baba Yaga laid an egg
Dubravka Ugrešić
The House with Chicken Legs
Sophie Anderson
Coming up in 2025
EGTG are excited to announce the upcoming line up for the next year. From comedy to contemporary pieces, there’s sure to be something for everyone...
February 2025
SCDA One Act
Spring 2025
Being Norwegian by David Greig Directed by Paul Arendt
TBA
Directed by Alexander Cook
Summer 2025
Fringe 2025
Autumn 2025
Suddenly Last Summer by Tennesse Williams Directed by Ross Hope
The Virtuous Burglar by Dario Fo Directed by Jenny Tamplin
Second Fringe Show TBA
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon
