scene

How was it for you?
I’m sometimes asked what it’s like to
see my own plays being performed.
There’s no simple answer. Anything
from exhilarating to downright scary.
I’ve seen performances which
delighted me - and one which made
me shrink into my seat with
embarrassment.
With this in mind I checked this
year’s festival selection. The Young
Portonian Theatre Company had
chosen out-and-out comedy “Pig
Tale” as their SCDA entry while “The
Edge”, a two-hander dealing with
child abuse and teenage suicide,
was the choice of Birchvale Players.
In England two groups had also
gone for “Pig Tale” while a Welsh
club had opted for “The Edge”.
Two plays. Three countries. Five
productions. Six festivals. I couldn’t
get to early performances of the
Scottish shows and trips beyond
Scotland weren’t possible. Happily
both the Young Portonians and
Birchvale got through to their
respective Eastern and Western
Youth Finals, but both Finals were
on the same day - and I’d been
booked to adjudicate the Eastern!
One replacement adjudicator and I
was off down the road for “Pig Tale”.
Had the Young Portonians made a
pig’s ear of it? Certainly not! A most
enjoyable production by enthusiastic
and talented young performers
directed by experienced ‘old-timer’
Richard Mackintosh. They’d taken it
by the scruff of the neck and made a
silk purse out of it, generating loads
of laughs and putting in a few extra
gags I wished I’d written myself!
Great stuff, a good adjudication –
and on meeting them I found a lively
bunch with exactly the right attitude. I
left with head held high!
That night I heard that Birchvale
Players were through to the national
Youth Final! Nothing would prevent
me going to that! In Nairn I was met
by Emma Forsyth, Chris Wilson and
director Susan Black. Nervous? Of
course I was - but no nerves on
stage during a sensitive and moving
interpretation which brought a lump
to my throat. A stunning performance
which deserved the enthusiastic
reception and positive adjudication it
received. Singing on the way home!
There were twelve performances in
all as various productions
progressed, picking up sixteen
trophies between them. The two I
managed to get to, plus reports from
those I didn’t, made me proud to be
the playwright - but I’ll always feel
that touch of apprehension at a
performance of one of my plays.
Ron Nicol
Thurso & Wick Players come
to blows
Local actors recently had the opportunity to learn stage combat skills from
visiting industry professionals. Thurso Player's members were joined by their
counterparts from Wick Players at the Mill Theatre for a friendly weekend of
hair pulling, slapping, punching, kicking, and sword fighting.
Professional tutor Joel Mason, and his assistant Philip Kingston travelled
from Fife to deliver a weekend of training for juniors and adults in June.
Participants from both clubs learned simple and effective techniques to trick
their audience into believing the on stage fights were genuine. Almost 40
people from age 8 learned new skills while taking responsibility for their own
safety and that of others. The training weekend culminated in a short
performance for parents and friends from Joel’s own musical “Mary of the high seas” allowing the participants to
showcase their new skills.
Thurso Player’s spokeswoman said “We were delighted to invite Wick Players to join our training session. It’s great to
work together and means both clubs get great value for money from the visiting tutors. Wick Players have since
invited us to join a training session held at their Moray Street club rooms and it’s great to share experiences and
strengthen the bonds between our neighbouring clubs.”
The new skills developed at this training session will be utilised in future productions, watch closely and see if you can
figure out how it’s done!
Clare Crawford
Joel & Philip explaining safety responsibilities
to the group
Joel demonstrates key techniques
Philip & Participant
John McGeachie
practice the
techniques
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