Playwright and performer Malaika Kegode is presenting her new show, 'Badgers', at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh. The production, created for Theatre Royal Plymouth, explores the disappearance of a folk singer through the lens of a true-crime podcast investigation.
Kegode's narrative weaves together gothic fairytale elements, such as folk songs with dark-magic properties, human-to-animal transmutation, and hints of witchcraft. The audience is invited to participate by taking on the role of Meles Costas, an under-qualified true-crime podcaster, whose name is the Latin word for badger.
The story questions whether the singer vanished in 2015 due to being cursed and transformed into a badger after stealing a song. The production features a live score by Jakabol, performed by Beth Roberts and Joe Williams.