The Walking Theatre Company

The Argyll-based WALKING THEATRE COMPANY – Sadie Dixon-Spain and Liam Calgie – aim to take their flexible brand of theatre to the people

Mission Statement

The Walking Theatre Company creates the opportunity for rural communities to actively experience high quality professional ‘Walking’ theatre that is both historical and interactive and that can be placed within any landscape at any time. We take theatre to the people.

Current Production or Work-in-Progress

We have currently added ‘Macbeth’s Way’ to our repertoire. An interpretation of this Shakespearian great. A tale of magic, dark arts, murder, treason, intrigue and monarchy, served with a twist.
 
We are also developing our historical and interpretive projects and are delighted to be creating a piece for the Lismore Heritage Centre, a tragic tale set around the clearances, depicted through traditional writing and diaries that outline the effects upon the islanders and their traditions through to modern day.

Fantasy Theatre

Venues change and shape each performance as we simply transfer each play into each new environment. For this reason our team are inspiring and flexible actors as it takes a really special person who will get down and dirty whilst retaining the integrity of the play and the belief of the audience.

So our fantasy Theatre is linked to magical venues – the opportunity to lead an audience around Eileen Donan Castle or to take ‘secret’ theatre walks through ‘lost gardens’, would really be wonderful giving a unique experience to both audience and cast.

Golden Moment

This year we really have ‘two golden’ company moments. The first being selected to perform for a 200 strong audience at Holyrood. We created an event short that linked the MSP’s speeches to the networking & drinks part of the event. We were a surprise as only the organisers knew what we were doing! This was a professional highlight that showed us how divinely transferable our unique brand of theatre is. We also gained great feedback and loads of bookings.

The second – a joy, during a torch lit performance of Macbeth for Lochalsh Arts in Balmacara Estate. One small boy said to his pal after watching Lady Macbeth’s “fill my blood with direst cruelty” monologue, “Did you ken a word o’that?”. “No,” came the reply, “but just look out – she is evil.”

And Not So Golden Moment

Overhearing a member of the audience talking to her daughter who is currently working for a large theatre in Inverness. Mum saying, “this is a great idea, much more than promenade. Darling, you can reproduce this idea at work!” Reply, “I certainly can, I’ll pitch something at work next week!”

Highland Theatre – Is There Such A Thing, and If So, What Is It?

Being based in lowly Argyll, in a void, we aspire to Highland theatre. There is certainly a power behind the creative movement and organisations that work in the highlands and every visit North, where we feel the warmth and joy of our lovely audiences, we gain re-newed focus to keep on going. For us we see Highland Theatre & Island Theatre as a moving force that draws culture, heritage and community together, and we love that aspiration, bring it on.
 

© Sadie Dixon-Spain, 2007

Links

• Walking Theatre Company