"The Deep" at Wick and Tain

22nd July 2009

North Highland Connections presents
"The Deep" at Wick and Tain
July 31st at Wick and August 1st at Tain - Both at 8.00pm
Mackay's Hotel in Wick on the 31st July and at the Collegiate Church in Tain on 1st August.

One of Scotland's most outstanding Shakespearean actors is returning to the North at the end of July. Liam Brennan, who has played Macbeth in nine different productions from the Royal Lyceum in Edinburgh to the Nottingham Playhouse and has toured America with the Globe Theatre, is coming to Wick and Tain at the end of July in 'The Deep' by Icelandic writer Jon Atli Jonasson.

The Deep, which has been seen by audiences in Halkirk, Durness, Skerray and Rosehall in April, is based on the true story. A fishing boat sinks, and all bar one are lost. The survivor battles for life, and endures an epic struggle. It is a beautifully simple tale that touches the heart, translated into a tough and bristling Scots idiom and Liam's performance has been praised by critics and audiences alike, both in Glasgow and the North.

Asked about his return North with The Deep, Liam said 'The writer, Jon Atli Jonasson, is staging the play at the Edinburgh Festival and we had been approached about doing more performances up here so this seemed like an ideal opportunity to be able to bring the show to more audiences in the North before the run in Edinburgh.

People came up to me after the show everywhere we played in Caithness and Sutherland. Many of them had lost family members or knew of someone who had been lost in circumstances very like the play describes. Of course, there are many historical cultural links between Iceland and the North but the play is about everyday life in fishing communities and that is the common link here. It was a completely different experience from the shows in the Central Belt.'

We were delighted to have the opportunity to bring this excellent play to more venues in the North Highlands. After the successful tour in April, many people asked why the run had been so short. It is something of a cliché, but The Deep really is coming back by popular demand. This is a great chance to see one of Scotland's best actors at work and that is key to the policy of NHC - good people doing great work.

The Deep can be seen at Mackay's Hotel in Wick on the 31st July and at the Collegiate Church in Tain on 1st August. Both shows will be at 8.00pm.

Tickets £7/£5 available from North Highland Connections 01955 606 695; e-mail: MF[AT]northhighlandconnections.org