Film
1990 film
In 1990, The Witches was adapted into a film starring Anjelica Huston and Rowan Atkinson, directed by Nicolas Roeg, co-produced by Jim Henson, and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. In the film, the boy is American and named Luke Eveshim, his grandmother is named Helga Eveshim, and The Grand High Witch is named Evangeline Ernst.
The most notable difference from the book is that the boy is restored to human form at the end of the story by the Grand High Witch's assistant (a character who does not appear in the book), who had renounced her former evil. Dahl regarded the film as "utterly appalling".[28]
2020 film
Another film adaptation, co-written and directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Anne Hathaway as the Grand High Witch, was released in October 2020 on HBO Max, after it was removed from its original release date due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The most notable difference from the book is that this adaptation takes place in 1968 Alabama, and the protagonist is an African-American boy who is called "Hero Boy".[29] The adaptation also stays true to the book's ending rather than the 1990 film, having the protagonist stay a mouse at the end.
Audio
Audiobooks
The book has been recorded three times:
- 2001, abridged, by Simon Callow for Penguin Children Audiobooks.[30]
- 2007, unabridged, by Lynn Redgrave for Harper Childrens Audio[31]
- 2016, unabridged, by Miranda Richardson for Penguin Audio[32]
Radio
In 2008, BBC Radio 4's Classic Serial broadcast a two-part dramatisation of the novel by Lucy Catherine, directed by Claire Grove. The cast included Margaret Tyzack as the Grandmother, Toby Jones as the Narrator, Ryan Watson as the Boy, Jordan Clarke as Bruno and Amanda Lawrence as the Grand High Witch.[33]
Stage
1992 play
A stage adaptation by David Wood was first presented at the Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield in 1992, following a tour and a Christmas season at the Duke of York's Theatre in London's West End. The adaptation has since been performed in numerous productions in both London and across the UK.[34]
2008 opera
The book was adapted into an opera by Norwegian composer Marcus Paus and his father, Ole Paus, who wrote the libretto. It premiered in 2008.[35]
2023 musical
A musical adaptation was originally announced to be in development at the National Theatre, London for a 2018 Festive season premiere.[36] The musical premiered at the National Theatre in November 2023, directed by Lyndsey Turner with book and lyrics by Lucy Kirkwood and music and lyrics by Dave Malloy, and is projected to run until 27 January 2024.[37][38]
