This 1992 Nightwood Theatre poster advertises the play Smoke Damage: A Story of the Witch Hunts, which ran from September 30 to October 23 of that year. Written by Baņuta Rubess and produced by Nightwood Theatre, the play originally premiered in 1983. It follows five women on vacation in Europe who embark on a journey to visit sites where an estimated nine million women were tortured and killed during the witch hunts.

Founded in 1979, Nightword Theatre is Canada’s oldest professional women’s theatre.

The design features a black-and-white image of a person in heels sweeping beside an open door. Through the doorway, red flames and small white text appear in the background. Graphic design was done by Joss Maclennan, Cate Cochran and Gail Geltner. 

The poster is one of a number in the Rise Up archival collection by Joss Maclennan. Copyright is held by the artist, and the poster is shared here with Joss Maclennan’s permission.