{{Short description|Musical written by Benedicte Adrian and Ingrid Bjørnov}} {{Other uses}} {{italic title}} '''''Which Witch''''' is a musical written by Norwegian singers/composers Benedicte Adrian and Ingrid Bjørnov.
The storyline for ''Which Witch'' was derived from the witch finder's manual ''Malleus Maleficarum'',<ref name=poprock>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Dollie de Luxe |encyclopedia=Norsk pop & rock-leksikon |pages=140–141 |year=2005 |publisher=Vega forlag |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo |isbn=82-92489-09-6 |editor=Jan Eggum, Bård Ose and Siren Steen}}</ref> and the original script was written by Adrian and Bjørnov's manager Ole A. Sørli. The lyrics of the early concert versions were written by Helen Hampton in collaboration with Adrian, Bjørnov and Sørli. {{citation needed|date=April 2010}}
The first performance was in Grieghallen, Bergen on May 27, 1987, with Adrian playing the female lead, and Bjørnov as musical director.<ref name=poprock/> The material was constantly developed throughout a period of eight years, resulting in several national and international tours presenting continuously updated concert versions of the musical.{{citation needed|date=April 2010}}
The "Operamusical" ''Which Witch'' opened at the Piccadilly Theatre in London on October 22, 1992 and ran for 76 performances, after a critical savaging. It has been described as "the second worst West End musical of all time",<ref name="DailyTelegraph_24Apr2008_Culture_Theatre_Cavendish_WhichWitch">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/3672844/The-10-worst-musicals-of-all-time.html|title=The 10 worst musicals of all time|last=Cavendish|first=Dominic|date=24 April 2008|publisher=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=16 April 2010}}</ref> a "bizarre musical",<ref name="BBCNews_27May2003_Eurovision2003_WhichWitch">{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/2940682.stm|title=Eurovision nul points hall of fame|date=27 May 2003|publisher=BBC News|access-date=16 April 2010}}</ref> and "a dire rock opera".<ref name="BBCNews_27May2003_Eurovision2003_WhichWitch"/>
The London version was followed by a rather more successful Norwegian tour, and further performances of a Norwegian version in Holmenkollen, Oslo during the summer of 1994.{{citation needed|date=April 2010}}
''Which Witch'' has, since its premiere in May 1987, been performed a total of 142 times in concert version in the following countries: Norway, Canada, USA, the Netherlands, England, Spain, Finland, Sweden and Denmark. The total attendance figure is approx. 276,000.{{citation needed|date=April 2010}}
==Recordings== *''Which Witch—the original studio album'' (released 1987). *''Which Witch på Slottsfjellet'' live concert double album (released 1990). *''Which Witch—London Cast Album'' (released 1993). Total record sales are in excess of 110,000 units.{{cn|date=April 2026}} Licensed productions have been staged in several European countries.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.whichwitch.no ''Witch Witch'' - The Operamusical] - Official website.
Category:1986 musicals Category:Musicals based on European myths and legends Category:Norwegian musicals Category:Rock operas Category:West End musicals Category:Musicals based on books