A CEILIDH play exploring identity and Scotland’s relationship with alcohol begins a tour of 16 theatres and village halls around the country next week.
The Stornoway Way is a romantic tragicomedy centring on Roman Stornoway, a struggling musician on the Isle of Lewis who dreams of leaving for the city with best pal Eilidh.
When they eventually get there, they meet Eva, a mysterious student who may offer some kind of salvation.
The Dogstar Theatre production, which premiered to sell-out audiences at An Lanntair on Lewis at the end of August, is based on Kevin MacNeil’s debut novel of the same name.
Published in 2005, it was a Herald book of the year and praised by one reviewer as “the best Scottish book since Trainspotting”.
“Kevin says his adaptation is better than the novel in some ways,” says Matthew Zajac, who directs young actors Rachel Kennedy, Chloe-Ann Tylor and Naomi Stirrat.
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Zajac, who helped develop the play’s dramaturgy, says MacNeil’s adaptation gives more weight to the voices of Eilidh (Kennedy) and Eva (Tylor).
“Fleshing out these female protagonists makes for a more rounded piece,” says Zajac. “And we don’t hide the fact that a woman is playing a man. Naomi is great playing essentially the same character, this self-obsessed young alcoholic.”
Music is integral to the piece, with the three performing songs
by Colin Macleod aka Mull Historical Society and Willie Campbell of legendary Lewis indie band Astrid.
Three songs will feature from Visible From Space, the album MacNeil and Campbell released together in 2012.
Zajac says many Dogstar productions have sought to amplify voices from the northerly reaches and islands of Scotland.
Earlier this year, he toured one-man show The Tailor Of Inverness to sell-out audiences for the sixth time.
In 2020 he hopes to secure funding for a collaboration with a Kiev company on the war in eastern Ukraine and for a London revival of Factor 9, his 2014 hit about the contaminated blood products scandal.
The Stornoway Way, he says, is from Lewis but not limited to the island.
“It’s about the pull of the city to young people in rural areas,” says Zajac. “It’s very much about alcoholism, something that affects the whole of Scotland. And while it’s something of a counterpoint to the shortbread view of the place that tourists are sold, the beauty of Lewis features in the play as well.”
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October 3, The Brunton, Musselburgh; Oct 4, Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy; Oct 5, Eastwood Park Theatre, Giffnock; Oct 10, Cottiers, Glasgow; Oct 11 & 12, The Studio Potterrow, Edinburgh; Oct 14, Howden Park Centre, Livingston; Oct 15, Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock; Oct 16, Eastgate Arts, Peebles; Oct 17, MacRobert, Stirling; Oct 18, Birnam Art Centre, Dunkeld; Oct 19, Village Hall, Portgordon; Oct 21, Community Hall, Gairloch; Oct 23, Sabhal Mor Ostaig, Isle of Skye; Oct 24-26, Eden Court, Inverness; Oct 29, Latheron Village Hall; Oct 30, Reay Village Hall. Tickets £9.50 to £14.50. www.dogstartheatre.co.uk
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