Caithness Map :: Links to Site Map Great value Unlimited Broadband from an award winning provider SAT 23RD NOV 2024    8:01:35 AM GMT
This site uses cookies, by continuing to use this site you accept the terms of our privacy policy
Back To Top
Caithness.Org Quick Links
Home
Art
Crafts
Dance
Drama
Music
New Media
Photography
Venues
Writing
Site Map
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Feed 2.0 Loading...

Caithness Arts Drama Festival

22nd August 2009

Photograph of Caithness Arts Drama Festival

Caithness Arts will be presenting a mini 'Festival of Drama' early next month. Grey Coast Theatre Company will be spearheading the festival with a new play from Caithness writer George Gunn. 'Fields of Barley' revolves around a love story between a female farmer from Lower Pultneytown and an Italian-American pilot and is set in Wick during the dark days of World War II.

The play, which will form part of the nationwide Homecoming Celebrations, will be directed by Edinburgh based drama student Iain MacDonald with young performers, Peter Gordon of Edinburgh and Sheila Smith of Murkle in the leading roles. Originally from Thurso, Iain is currently in his fourth year at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh where he is studying towards a BA (Hons.) in Drama & Theatre Arts. Before moving to Edinburgh, Iain worked extensively with both Thurso Players and Grey Coast. He was also amongst the first group of students to graduate from the North Highland College with an HNC in Acting and Performance.

His involvement with Grey Coast on this project has been made possible through sponsorship from the 'Shell Step' programme which allows for the placements of highly motivated students with small companies throughout the UK to undertake business projects during their summer breaks. The Highlands and Islands Step programme has been boosted this year, with businesses receiving 50% funding towards the cost of a student placement from Shell and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. Working for small businesses gives students the chance to make a big impression, with projects that can deliver substantial rewards to their host companies. In 2008 a quarter of Step students added more than �15,000 worth of value to their placement's business, while two thirds added at least �5,000. This year's programme offers students a chance to apply their knowledge, develop their skills, and earn some money at the same time.

Early work involved in setting up the Festival has been undertaken and rehearsals will begin during the latter part of August with the performances taking place in both Wick and Thurso on 4th & 5th September. Thurso Players will also participate in the evening's entertainment with a showcase performance marking the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns. The performance will include an array of songs and poems from Burns as well as other artists ranging from William Wordsworth to Bob Dylan.

Representatives from Grey Coast will also visit secondary schools in Wick and Thurso with a view to encourage more active participation in the performing arts and give careers advice to students with an interest in further education covering all aspects of the arts. Iain said "This will be a wonderful example of how young people can engage and benefit from involvement in the arts. I am really excited and grateful for the opportunity I have been given."

The event is being supported by Caithness Arts, Shell, Grey Coast Theatre Company, The Highland Cultural Fund, Thurso Players and the Dounreay Communities Fund.
Performances will take place at The Old Parish Church, Wick on Friday 4th and The Mill Theatre, Thurso on Saturday 5th beginning at 7.30pm each evening. Admission to both events will be free although donations may be made at the door.

 

Related Artists

 

Related Articles

[]
7/10/2024
The Nuclear And Caithness Archive Collection Of Thurso Players Programmes And PostersThumbnail for article : The Nuclear And Caithness Archive Collection Of Thurso Players Programmes And Posters
Thurso Players was formed in 1950 following the closing of the Thurso Dramatic Society, Thurso Dramatic Club and earlier Caithness drama groups that can be traced back to the 1890s.   Despite the logistical problems of finding rehearsal and performance spaces the Players thrived, and in 1959 founder member Robin Sinclair offered a building in the old mill complex - if they could make it safe and watertight, which eventually over two to three decades later they were able to.  
[]
19/6/2019
C'est La VieThumbnail for article : C'est La Vie
See poster for details..  
[]
20/6/2018
The Glass Menagerie - Thurso PlayersThumbnail for article : The Glass Menagerie - Thurso Players
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams Thurso Players at the Mill Theatre, Thurso Wednesday 27th - Friday 29th June 2018.  Tickets £8 concessions £6 from McBeath Jewellers Tel 01847 892634 The Glass Menagerie is a memory play by Tennessee Williams that premiered in 1944 and catapulted Williams from obscurity to fame.  
[]
2/3/2018
Shooting Clerks - Postponed Until Saturday 10th March, ThursoThumbnail for article : Shooting Clerks  - Postponed Until Saturday 10th March, Thurso
Thurso Players.   One of our ex members - Brett Murray is returning to the Mill Theatre with his film showing.  
[]
7/12/2017
Thurso Panto Cancelled Tonight Thursday 7 December
Message From Thurso Players.   Due to the weather/Health and Safety reasons, the Thurso High School is shut today which means that unfortunately tonight's performance of the Thurso Players pantomime has had to be cancelled.  
[]
22/11/2017
Thurso Players Panto - Robin Hood and The Babes in the WoodThumbnail for article : Thurso Players Panto - Robin Hood and The Babes in the Wood
Can our favourite outlaw, Robin Hood, outwit the evil Sheriff of Nottingham who has hatched a cunning plan to dispose of his niece and nephew in Sherwood Forest so he can inherit their fortune? Come and join Robin's gang and help our hero win the day, and also win the heart of Maid Marian.   NOTE - This year the panto starts 30 minutes earlier than previous years at 7.00pm..  
[]
24/8/2017
Wizard of Oz by Thurso PlayersThumbnail for article : Wizard of Oz by Thurso Players
Thurso Players presents the well known story and musical of the Wizard of Oz made famous by the film with Judy Garland as Dorothy.   The original book was called The wonderful Wizard of Oz by L.Frank Baum.  
[]
30/4/2017
Descent - A New Play At Mill Theatre, ThursoThumbnail for article : Descent - A New Play At Mill Theatre, Thurso
Friday 12th May - 7.30pm.   See poster for details A play about love.  
[]
4/9/2016
Zombie Prom The Musical by Thurso PlayersThumbnail for article : Zombie Prom The Musical by Thurso Players
Mill Theatre, Thurso Wednesday 21st - Saturday 24th 2016 Act I Zombie Prom opens at Enrico Fermi High School.  The students go through their daily routine ("Enrico Fermi High") and the audience meets Jonny, a rebel who spells his name without the traditional 'H.' We also meet the good-girl heroine, Toffee, and Miss Strict, the principal of Enrico Fermi High School.  
[]
1/4/2016
The Birthday Party by Harold PinterThumbnail for article : The Birthday Party by Harold Pinter
The Birthday Party is about Stanley Webber, an erstwhile piano player in his 30s, who lives in a run down boarding house, run by Meg and Petey Boles, in an English seaside town, probably on the south coast, not too far from London.  Two sinister strangers, Goldberg and McCann, who arrive supposedly on his birthday and who appear to have come looking for him, turn Stanleys apparently innocuous birthday party organised by Meg into a nightmare.