Society casts a spell with The Witches of Eastwick at Crewe Lyceum

By Jonathan White

More than a century of musical theatre, an award-winning track record and now three flying witches – Acton AOS are preparing to bring something truly spectacular to the Crewe Lyceum stage.

For more than 100 years, Acton AOS has been entertaining audiences and nurturing musical and dramatic talent across South Cheshire. Founded in 1920 with the dual aims of supporting local charities and developing local talent, the society began with charity concerts before staging its first musical productions, including HMS Pinafore in 1923. More than a century later, that passion for live theatre is still at the very heart of Acton AOS.

Today, Acton AOS is renowned for ambitious, high-quality musical productions, and the society is incredibly fortunate to have the magnificent Crewe Lyceum Theatre as its home for its major productions.

Over the years, the standard of Acton AOS productions has continued to rise, with increasingly ambitious sets, costumes, choreography, music and performances. Following the success of recent productions including Legally Blonde and Oliver!, the society is now ready to take audiences on a very different theatrical journey.

And this time, things are about to get a little… wicked.

Acton AOS is thrilled to have secured the licence to perform The Witches of Eastwick, the darkly comic musical based on John Updike’s novel and the famous Warner Bros. film.

The musical originally opened in London’s West End in 2000 at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, starring Ian McShane, Lucie Arnaz, Maria Friedman and Joanna Riding. The production later transferred to the Prince of Wales Theatre in 2001, closing in October of that year.

For Acton AOS, getting the opportunity to perform this rarely seen musical has been a long-held ambition.

The society has been waiting – and waiting – and waiting for the opportunity to obtain the licence. In fact, there couldn’t be a more appropriate song to describe that wait than one of the show’s own numbers: “Waiting for the Music to Begin.”

And now, finally, the music is about to begin.

The Witches of Eastwick is no ordinary amateur musical. It is an epic production packed with huge dance numbers, fabulous music, comedy, intrigue, magic and plenty of adult innuendo.

The story follows three women who, bored with their ordinary lives in the small town of Eastwick, make a wish for their ideal man. Their wish appears to come true when the mysterious and devilishly charming Darryl Van Horne arrives in town – but the three women soon discover that getting what you wish for can come with consequences.

With musical numbers including “Make Him Mine,” “Dirty Laundry” and “Dance with the Devil,” audiences can expect a production that is bold, funny, energetic and just a little bit naughty.

And then there is the magic.

For the first time in Acton AOS history, audiences will see three witches take flight, adding another spectacular dimension to a production that promises to push the boundaries of what can be achieved on the Lyceum stage.

It is the perfect show for the magnificent Crewe Lyceum – a venue that Acton AOS feels incredibly privileged to perform in. The combination of a large-scale musical, a talented cast, ambitious choreography and the technical possibilities of the Lyceum promises to make this one of the society’s most exciting productions yet.

Acton AOS has come a long way since those first charity concerts more than a century ago, but one thing has never changed: the love of bringing people together to experience the magic of live musical theatre.

Now the wait is over.

The witches are coming to Crewe.

The Witches of Eastwick runs at the Crewe Lyceum Theatre from Wednesday 14th to Saturday 17th October 2026, with performances at 7.30pm and a matinee performance on Saturday 17th October at 2.30pm.

Book tickets for The Witches of Eastwick at Crewe Lyceum: https://trafalgartickets.com/lyceum-theatre-crewe/en-GB/event/musical/the-witches-of-eastwick-tickets