Somewhere on the Moor...
Something stirs.

A Gothic Tale Penned by Jen Silverman & Directed by Ellie Otis

Set against the bleak and mysterious landscape of the English moors, this dark comedy follows two spinster sisters, Agatha and Huldey, as they navigate life in their isolated manor. When a young governess arrives, seeking employment, she finds herself entangled in the sisters’ twisted power games and hidden desires.

Meanwhile, a mastiff and a moor-hen grapple with their own existential crises. Inspired by the works of the Brontë sisters, The Moors is a gothic and absurdist exploration of ambition, isolation, and the search for love and meaning in a harsh, unforgiving world.

Bleak. Beautiful. Boundless.

Where the wind whispers lies and the house itself might be watching.

Desire

What burns beneath the lace?

Deceit

The truth changes shape in fog.

Doom

The moors do not forget.

Directed by

Ellie Otis

Ellie is ecstatic to direct for Voodoo Theatre Company after appearing in their recent production of The Antipodes as Adam. After getting her start with Umbrella Theatre Company in 2020, Ellie produced and directed a widely successful production of King Lear in 2021. She's since gone on to direct for AnOther Theatre Company and SLC Fringe, in addition to assistant directing for the Grand Theatre in Head Over Heels and Arsenic and Old Lace. In addition to directing, Ellie pursues acting and has recently appeared in the Grand’s production of Pride and Prejudice as Mary Bennet as Rodeo Star Sam Ryder in the collaborative devised cowboy piece What Blew in with the Rodeo with Open Door Productions. She’s thrilled to bring this production to life, and wants to thank her wonderful family for their constant support, and the cast and crew for trusting all her crazy concepts.

Note from the Director

“Do my actions, or lack of, really affect the world around me? Am I the person I think I am? Have I become who I am of my own accord, or simply become what others told me I’d be?

Through my time with this script, I’ve been forced to wrestle with these questions myself. Each of these questions has me questioning the sanity of the world around me; it’s become harder to distinguish between reality and fiction in the world we live in. Jen Silverman’s play shows its relevance by asking what it means to feel sane, or insane, in a cold, inhospitable environment, and I can’t help but draw the parallels to what it means to be an American, or even human, right now. Like the characters living on the moors, we are witnessing extremes of life and death every day and being told that that’s “just how things are done around here”. Do we stand a chance at holding onto our sanity amidst these conditions? Or are we simply destined to become the characters laid out before us: the cold and indifferent mastermind, at peace with letting all fall to ruin around her as long as she gets what she desires, or the supposed heroine, who is expected to be the catalyst for change but ends up succumbing to the pressure around her, or the lonely poet who allows himself to become what he’s told he should be. Or are we to follow the path of the morally greys, whose actions result in actual change taking place in a seemingly immobile environment. Is this the lesson we are to take? Are we insane to take that lesson, or more so in choosing to remain immobile? Silverman’s siren song seems to call for us to take action to change our current states. So I ask you, dear audience, to think on this: will your resolve to maintain sanity amidst the bleakness of the moors lull you into inaction, or will you let your inner insanity trigger action that can set “the moors” ablaze?”

with Assistant Director

Janell Rogers

Janell graduated from the University of Utah with a BA in Theatre Studies. Many of her works include directing, acting, and behind the scenes elements such as her most recent directing experience, Gay Girlswith Umbrella Theatre Company in The New Works Mentorship Project, Near Mint a new production with the New Play Workshop class with the University of Utah Department of Theatre, and directed/wrote a 10min adaptation of Alma and How she got her Name with Egyptian Youtheatre. She has assistant directed Dancing at Lughnasa and Illyria with the University of Utah. Some technical experience includes being the dramaturg for The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, production assistant for Somewhere: A Primer for the End of Days at the University of Utah, and intern assistant for Something Rottenwith Murray Arts Council. She would like to thank her family, su familia, for all the love and support.

The Cast

Viviane Turman

as Agatha
VIVIANE TURMAN (Agatha) is a Westminster alumnus with a BFA in Theatrical Performance and is a figure artist.Though this will be Viviane’s first production with Voodo, you may recognize them from around the valley! Some of their favorite regional credits include: Three Penny Theatre Co: My Name is Rachel Corrie (Rachel Corrie), The Grand: Pride and Prejudice (Lady Catharine De Bourgh) Harvey (Female Swing) To Kill A Mockingbird (Mayella Ewell), Day Dreamer Theatre Co: Cabaret (Frenchie), The Ziegfield Rent (Alexi Darling), Sasquatch Theatre Co: The Drowning Girls (Margaret), The Classical Greek Theatre Festival: Medea (Messenger) The Women of Thrachis (Chorus) Herakles (Chorus/Puppeteer). "Agatha is a dream come true. Thank you."
Addilynn Bowler

as Huldey
Addilynn Bowler (Addie) is ECSTATIC to be part of such an amazing cast and crew, telling this weird and wonderful story! Some of her favorite acting credits include Tenderhooks (Letha); Mother of the Maid (Joan of Arc) with Pygmalion Theatre; HCTO’s last production of A Christmas Carol (Martha Cratchit); The Pirates of Penzance (Sergeant of Police); and I Hate Hamlet (John Barrymore) with UVU. Addie is currently pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre Performance at Utah Valley University. Huge thanks to her family, loved ones, dogs, and horses for loving her through every beautiful mess—and to the shadows for whispering stage directions instead of existential dread. Eternal gratitude to the mysterious presence that flickers the lights every night—your commitment to the vibe is unmatched. Love you all!
Jessica Graham

as Emilie
Jessica is a theatre maker currently based in SLC. She is co-founder of 'Footpath Theatre Co' and really loves making art with her pals. Recent projects include acting in 'My Name is Rachel Corrie' (Rachel) and 'The Quiet Rule' (Georgia) with emily's house, prop designing for 'The Roommate' with Salt Lake Acting Company, co-creating/acting/designing 'Western Minerals and Their Origins' with Footpath, and directing 'Sender'. Big thanks to her family, friends, and all the dogs in her life, without whom life would certainly be worse. Her social media is private, and someday she will make a website. In the meantime you can typically find her in the mountains should you need to get ahold of her.
Nicole Finney

as Marjory
Nicole is an actor, director, and writer working in both theatre and film. She lives in Ogden and graduated from Weber State University with a BA in theatre arts. Previous acting works include Coach Coach (Patti), The Christians (Wife Elizabeth), Appropriate (River), and Breaking the Shakespeare Code (Anna) at Good Company, Mother, Mother: The Many Mothers of Maude (Maude Adams) and Flying (Susan McCallan) at Pygmalion, and The Lion In Winter (Alais) with New World Shakespeare Company. Previous directing works include Cowboy Mouth, Freud’s Last Session, The Appeal, The Nether, Eurydice, The Children, and Ripped at Good Company Theatre. Nicole slings craft beer, practices hot yoga, explores the outdoors, and spends time with her three cats--Freyja, Jiji, and Mercutio.
Alvaro Cortez

as The Mastiff
Alvaro Cortez is a second generation immigrant actor, both in film and theatre based in Salt Lake City. A 2020 pandemic graduate from Westminster College in the B.F.A program. Proud owner of Nova the Pitbull, who helped him find his inner dog. Most recent theatrical work was in Misery, Sheriff Buster. The Seagull, Medvedenko. Previous Voodoo performance was in the one man show of The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey.
Ryeleigh Eliza

as a Moor-hen
Ryeleigh Eliza is excited to be working for Voodoo Theatre Company for the first time! Regional credits include Marked Green at Birth, Marked Female at Birth (Eve), Pride and Prejudice (Lydia), Tragedy Averted (Ophelia), and The Real Thing (Debbie).
Merry Magee

as Swing
Merry is positively titillated to be working with Voodoo and such a fine team of artists. Merry holds a BFA in Theatre Performance from Westminster University. Recent credits include: Improv Salt Lake Sketch Comedy Revue, Save the Cow (2024 GSL Fringe), Merry Wives of Windsor (Mad King Productions), A Shayna Maidel (Three Penny Theatre), Go Home Come Back (Plan B - Script in Hand Series), Sparks Fly Upward (SLAC Playwright’s Lab), Scarlet, Cherry Wine in Paper Cups, Train Tracks (Sackerson), Ion, Women of Trachis (Classical Greek Theatre Festival); and The Rapture Happens at Midnight (An Other Theatre Company).