This Tuesday, The Witches of Eastwick will go onstage as the ADC mainshow. Many people will have heard of the movie from which this musical is adapted, but the musical itself is less well known. Musicals tend to rely upon well-known, catchy show-tunes to bring in ticket sales, or a recognisable leading creative like Lloyd-Webber, Fossey, or Menken. ‘Witches’ has none of these - so why did the ADC programme it?

Because of the show itself. Witches may be a powerhouse of a musical - it has the obligatory jazz-hand dance numbers and ticks all the usual boxes - but there’s much more to it than just this. It’s honest, it’s gritty, and it doesn't make apologies for the flaws in its characters - it addresses them head on.

Director Sarah Mercer is keen to ensure the show speaks to Cambridge audiences, and has been working with the cast and crew to tweak it accordingly. With a re-emphasised feminist angle that focuses on the journeys of our three witches (Julia Kass, Lucy Dickson, and Joanna Clarke), this production has an individual spark. It’s an unfortunate problem with female characters in quite a lot of musicals that, either because they were written long ago, or because they sing and dance their way through every issue, they end up sexist, superfluous, or both.

Witches is subverting these habits. Most prominently, we have three independent and interesting protagonists in the three witches themselves. Their relationships with each other are just as important in the show as their individual interactions with Daryl, the male lead. Within the ‘mandatory love-struck couple’, it is Michael (Joe Pitts) who has his head in the clouds, and Jennifer (Georgina Skinner) who is headed to an Ivy League college and trying to bring some sense to her boyfriend. Finally, we have a Daryl who isn't a one-dimensional misogynist, but ingratiates himself with false sympathy which initially masks his underlying nature.

In Witches, three women accidentally summon the devil, Daryl Van Horne (George Longworth), whilst fantasising about their ideal man, who comes in and wreaks havoc in their little New England town. Meanwhile, the villagers are powering the old gossip mill, driving town president Felicia (Megan Henson) to desperate acts. Two deaths and a separated ‘Romeo-and-Juliet-couple’ later, and the three witches must take it upon themselves to set things right.

Boasting a healthy contingent of freshers, including three of the principals and the Musical Director (Joe Beighton), Witches is bringing a fresh energy and new style to the Musical Theatre Society. CUMTS President, Lily Parham, said that she is “just in awe of the incredibly talented freshers this year! It’s so great to have so many lovely first years, who are keen to get involved, and already feel a part of something fun and exciting.”

So, in the words of co-producer Lewis Scott, “Come along to everyone's favourite musical about witches. What was that? Wicked? Never heard of it.” Disclaimer: it’s got camp bits. Very camp bits.

The Witches of Eastwick is showing Tuesday 3rd - Saturday 7th February at 7.45pm, ADC Theatre.