Perhilion Theatre Company

ALASDAIR SATCHEL looks to create imaginative theatre through his Dunoon-based company

Mission Statement

Perhilion Theatre Company creates imaginative theatre, using diverse means to stimulate and excite our audiences. Working from the physicality of the actor, puppetry, masks and humour we open up tales and stories that examine the notion of how we fit in to the societies in which we live today, reflecting the experience of not just being Scottish, but being part of a larger, European, and Global community.
 
To date our productions have been new writing, but as we grow we are coming to explore not only new work but also adaptations and neglected European classics.

Current Production or Work-in-Progress

As Alasdair Satchel, the Artistic Director of Perhilion is currently Education Officer at Mull Theatre, Perhilion are keeping a bit of a low profile, but plans are always brewing…

In the coming months we are going to look at Anton Chekhov’s early comic play ‘Platonov’. We will bring the piece to life in our distinctive physical style, under the direction of Rachael Rayment. We start exploratory work on ‘Platonov’ this winter, and hope to realise a full production in two years time.

‘Luggage’, Alasdair Satchel’s latest play, was developed with the help of the Playwrights Studio in January 2006. ‘Luggage’, featuring four actors and some very large puppets will come into being in the middle-to-near future…

Alasdair will be offering continuing professional development workshops next year in Glasgow for actors keen to develop their physical skills.

Also in development is a small scale cabaret show with singer songwriter, Andi Neate, for performance at the Prague Fringe in 2008. And perhaps, just perhaps, you may see an Argyll-based ‘Two Man Rumble’ tour next year…

Fantasy Theatre

I think we do very well for young audiences in Scotland, and that’s great, it really is, but I feel that there’s a gap for teen audiences, especially in the Highlands.

Finding an idea of theatre that would appeal to a whole range of people and really draw them in, keep them held and wanting more, would be a fantastic thing. As long as it was held together by a bloomin’ good story, well told, that’s what matters.

Golden Moment

Performing ‘One Man Rant’ on Colonsay in 2003. I’ll never forget the moment when the puppet (a melon with a simple face drawn on, a shirt for a body and a bunch of bananas for hands) appeared in the piece, and went in to the audience. 

Afterwards a lady came up to me and asked how I managed to get the puppet to close its eyes. I responded that it was a melon with a face drawn on to it. The lady refused to believe me, and said that as it had come in to give her a hug it had definitely closed its eyes. Well, thought I, you can’t argue with that.

And then there was the sell out house in Prague in 2006, full of Czechs laughing to naughty jokes in Scots. That was a mighty fine night as well…

And Not So Golden Moment

Brighton Fringe 2006. Despite being at a brilliant venue, who were so helpful it was untrue, we had a rubbish experience of the Fringe. It was quite a trek back to Dunoon from ‘dahn saaaf’. On the bright side, though, that trip did introduce both George, our technical manager and myself to the joys of the Flashman novels. So it was worth it in that respect alone.

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

Of course there’s such a thing. There’s so many brilliant people working really hard to keep the theatre alive in the Highlands it’s untrue. And they’re not just working for it they’re fighting for it – that’s got to say something.

I couldn’t say what Highland theatre is, as there’s such a diverse range of companies out here, from Charioteer to Right Lines, to Goode For A Giggle, to Mull Theatre via Theatre Hebrides, Dogstar and many more. It’s an impressive list of great companies each ploughing different furrows.

Perhaps the minute you can say what Highland theatre is, there will be no point to it, as then it’ll never surprise you. I don’t know.

© Alasdair Satchel, 2007