For just over a month, Lucy Kirkwood’s The Welkin was featured at Soulpepper Theatre, located in the heart of Toronto’s Distillery District. The darkly comedic female-centred courtroom drama ran from Sep. 4 to Oct. 5, 2025, and raised crucial questions about women’s voices and legal justice by examining a case set in 18th century rural England.
The play covers an innovative tale about murder, pregnancy allegations, and legal justice. Set in a time when women faced significant institutional barriers, the play intentionally centres women’s voices and stories by overtly silencing the voices of the few men on stage. Kirkwood’s script simultaneously made the crowd belly laugh and reflect on the social structures and traditions often perceived as normal.
Canadian actress and playwright, Bahia Watson, takes the stage as protagonist Sally Poppy. Accused of murder, a death sentence appears to be all but certain until Poppy claims to be pregnant. To determine the truth of her claim, an unorthodox jury of 12 women is formed. What unfolds is a striking narrative that goes beyond the matter at hand and sheds light on issues of women’s rights and gender norms.
“The play addresses many of the harsh realities of women’s lives in the past, and asks how much things have really changed today,” Diane Kingstone, Front of House Usher at The Young Centre for the Performing Arts, says. “I also think the set, costumes, and incredible lighting of the production come together to make it all look like a Rembrandt painting on stage. It is just so visually beautiful.”
After a few establishing scenes, the rest of the play is a one-shot sequence of conversations interrupted only by an intermission; all 12 jurors and the defendant remain on stage for nearly 150 minutes. “It’s quite a marathon since all of the actors are onstage the entire time,” Monica Bagariç, theatre patron, says. “But each actor maintained the tempo, pacing, and powered through each of their characters’ highs and lows with such skill and grace.”
Ranging in age from early 20s to late 70s, the women are separated by opinion and beliefs but united by their experiences of womanhood, pregnancy, childbirth, and systemic oppression. The play is effective in highlighting that a lack of human rights for one person affects everyone, and the only solution is to come together and collectively raise our voices on these matters.
“I think the audience has been reacting very positively to The Welkin,” Kingstone notes. “There is a lot of laughter in response to many of the actors’ lines, particularly during the first act. Even though it’s a long play with a lot of intensity and very heavy themes, people seem to be open to the challenge and there is usually a very enthusiastic standing ovation during curtain call. I’ve observed from many people’s body language and mood when they’re exiting the theatre that they’ve seen something that has made them think, and feel.”
During its run at Soulpepper Theatre, The Welkin made a large impact on viewers. Attending Soulpepper is free for those under the age of 25, so head there now to catch the rest of the 2025/26 season, which includes The Comeuppance, Octet, and the family friendly holiday musical, Bad Hats’ Narnia.
