In a spellbinding interview, Katie Kopajtic, the creative power behind “Modern Witches,” takes us on a journey into the modern, magical realm of her one-woman show, sharing the secrets and inspirations that brought the play to life during the Edinburgh Fringe. The play will soon open in New York for a three-week run, and if the Scottish reception is any marker, it will do very well indeed.
The Birth of “Modern Witches”
“Modern Witches” isn’t just a play; it’s a tapestry of storytelling, Virginia Woolf, and contemporary ideas of witchcraft. At its heart, the show explores the intricate connections between mythologies, relationships, and self-discovery. Katie Kopajtic, the mastermind behind the production, described it as “all about weaving connective threads together.”
The genesis of “Modern Witches” was an intensely personal one. Katie explained, “I started writing it during a relationship crisis with Monica, my life partner (and the stage manager and producer of Modern Witches). We had – temporarily – split up, and I needed to ‘figure out’ what was next.” This turbulent period sparked a creative fire that would give birth to the show, that and an enduring fascination with the one, and only Virginia Woolf.
Literary Connections and Inspirations
“I’d long wanted to create a biographical piece about Virginia Woolf, but without becoming her, I have good friends who make fabulous character plays, but I am seeking a different connection.”
So then the idea came of an actor making a self-tape during lockdown, and taking on Woolf’s character to the point of summoning the extinct author.
The Magical Discovery: ‘Basic Witches’
But Katie’s path to creating “Modern Witches” wasn’t solely fueled by literary connections; it also had a serendipitous, if traumatic twist. During the period of her split with Monica, Katie found herself staying with her sister. It was in this house that she stumbled upon a book that would become a pivotal source of inspiration for her play. She recounted, “…a friend of hers knew an author of the book ‘Basic Witches: How to Summon Success, Banish Drama, and Raise Hell with Your Coven,’ a self-help book looking at the history of witchcraft and what contemporary witchcraft can offer.”
This book became another cornerstone of inspiration for “Modern Witches,” influencing the themes and rituals woven throughout the play. Katie’s fascination with this very modern idea of witchcraft was thus added to the cauldron.
Serendipitous reading material
Katie also just happened to be reading ‘Lolly Willowes’, Sylvia Townsend Warner’s satirical novel. Through the comedy, Katie saw something else, ‘At heart, it’s a tale of a ”spinster’ woman in the background of her brother’s life. She moves to the countryside away from family, and becomes a witch! Yes, it’s written as satire, but it’s also an argument for a space of one’s own.”
She continued, “It makes me think of a Woolf quote, from the aptly named ‘A Room of One’s Own’ – “…but what is true in it, so it seemed to me, reviewing the story of Shakespeare’s sister as I had made it, is that any woman born with a great gift in the sixteenth century would certainly have gone crazed, shot herself, or ended her days in some lonely cottage outside the village, half witch, half wizard, feared and mocked at.”
The Rebirth of “Modern Witches”
The journey of “Modern Witches” wasn’t without its challenges. The show faced a near-death experience during the pandemic, but, as Katie shared, it was reborn in 2022 when she met a theatre company in her hometown. This rebirth, years later, allowed her to view the project more objectively, bringing it closer to her original vision.
Reflecting on the evolution of the play, Katie emphasized, “It’s nice to write what you know, then step away so it can become its own thing.” This step back was essential in refining and enhancing the production. The experience of a recent run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival provided crucial insights: “We’re now walking away with opportunities to tweak. There we had to deal with lots of tech aspects, multimedia, and you’re confined to a short get-in-get-out time in hole-in-the-wall spaces without much capacity.”
She recalled the first time they performed, where the main electric plug was on the stage, creating a hopefully unique set of challenges. Overcoming these obstacles has likely made “Modern Witches” all the more polished and enchanting.
Bringing Virginia Woolf to New Audiences
While Virginia Woolf may be a familiar name to many in the United States, Katie’s vision for “Modern Witches” is to introduced American audiences to the author herself, and not Edward Albee’s 1962 play. She expressed her hope to introduce Woolf to a broader demographic: “There’s more known about Virginia Woolf in the UK – so it’s a little harder to find her specific audience here, but we’re part of a double bill which should grab more attention.”
The show will be paired with ‘Brain Hemmingway’, completely by chance, one of theQR’s top picks of the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe.
The impact of Woolf’s work on audiences is profound, and Katie understands the transformative power of storytelling. She’s not afraid of challenging her viewers’ perceptions, even if it involves revisiting painful material. She explained, “This continuing life of the show is allowing for bolder choices in the writing, tackling material that might have been too triggering for us (referring to her and Monica) 4 years ago.”
“Modern Witches” isn’t just a play; it’s a sublimation of a life and its inspirations.
Future Endeavors
Beyond “Modern Witches,” Katie is excited about future projects, one of which is a documentary centred on her Croatian heritage.
As a second-generation American, she’s delving into the concept of heritage fantasy and the connection between her identity and her roots. “There are a lot of white Americans with connections to other ‘homelands’ but they can take it or leave it. Maybe someone comes to Scotland, buys a kilt, and meets other people with the same last name, but only a few will delve deeper and form meaningful connections. But that idea of their ‘homeland’ won’t vanish.’
She shared, “My Croatian family are all still there – and I’ve just exported the first rough cut. It’s my next big project.” This documentary promises to be a deep and personal exploration of heritage and identity. “I want to explore the connection between who we are, and who our people are.” Read Katie’s essay on the making of the documentary here.
Conclusion
Katie Kopajtic’s “Modern Witches” is a testament to the power of storytelling, modern magic, and the resilience of the creative spirit. It’s a play that weaves together threads of literature, witchcraft, and personal discovery, inviting audiences to embark on a journey of self-reflection and transformation.
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