☆☆☆☆☆

David Alnwick has a habit of creating shows that are so unusual that they require a whole new category all to themselves in the Fringe listings. This year he has gone a step further in bringing a live found footage horror show, The Dare Witch Project. Naturally, as a debut, it’s completely unlike any of his previous shows. However, it still feels like a distinctly Alnwick show, it has his trademark perfection at every turn, from the plot to the magic and every step in between.

While The Dare Witch Project doesn’t feel like a typical magic show in any sense of the term, traditional or not, Alnwick is still a magician and uses magic to accentuate the show. The way that magic is used here is particularly creative, it doesn’t just illustrate the story but is an integral part in how it’s told and how the audience experiences it. With so few tricks they need to be perfect, and Alnwick is skilled enough that it’s no surprise they meet that requirement. Alnwick leans more on the cinematic cousins of magical misdirection to drive the show forward.

A Fringe veteran and legend with an especially versatile skill set, Alnwick has tons of fans in Edinburgh, who may not necessarily be fans of horror as a genre. It’s still worth at least considering attending The Dare Witch Project even if you are among them. It has the Alnwick hallmarks of excellence and originality that earned him such support, and Alnwick and the Voodoo Rooms staff helpfully lay out flyers on each chair that are the perfect size to cower behind when it gets too frightening. It’s not every day you get the opportunity to watch a new genre being born, not even at the Fringe.

The Dare Witch Project is an absolute must see for horror fans. It’s not just scary, there’s humor and nostalgia to lighten the mix, and the creative use of magic adds an extra level of interest. For horror fans it will be the perfect show.  For the rest, it’s exceptional enough to still be well worth seeing.