MUSICIAN and writer Malcolm Hanson’s epic project about the Pendle Witches will be both a play and a musical.

He has decided to create two works from the one story after spending several months working on script and songs.

Malcolm, who lives in Skipton, set out to relate the famous story as a musical entitled 1612, creating a play script while working on songs in the studio with a five-piece band.

He said: “The original, which I have now completed, is a purist play, telling the story exactly as it happened with little drama.

“This can be taken away and performed right now by anybody who is interested in it.

“I loved it so much that when it came to actually adapting it for a musical, making it a more dramatic piece and introducing poetic licence, I decided this new work would be totally different.”

For the second version he has teamed up with dramatist Helen Davies to co-write new scenes and plots.

Malcolm added: “She has written and staged musicals in the past and we are looking to spend the summer getting something ready for the autumn.”

Some of the music is already available on YouTube and Cloud, and a CD will be ready soon as a ‘demo-disc’ to send to potential producers, performance and directors.

The musicians working with Malcolm and Helen are Mabel Blue, Lavinia AC, Andy Wells and Dave Malt.