Eden Court Theatre, Inverness and Open Book are delighted to announce Para Handy – A Voyage Round The Stories of Neil Munro, a major new production of Neil Munro’s Para Handy tales, adapted and directed for the stage by renowned Scottish actor John Bett.

The irrepressible captain of the puffer The Vital Spark and his ramshackle crew are some of Scotland’s best loved and enduring characters; indeed, Neil Munro’s stories have never out of print since they first appeared in the Glasgow Evening News in 1906.

This original and unforgettable 21st century take on the adventures of Para Handy, his mate Dougie, engineer Macphail and cabin-boy Sunny Jim travels from a West Coast breakers’ yard through the canals to the sea lochs of the Highlands and Islands, and sets sail for a nationwide tour from its departure point in Inverness.

Taking the role of the eponymous captain will be one of Scotland’s most popular actors, Inverness’s own Jimmy Chisholm. Jimmy is a hugely familiar face thanks to screen roles in High Road, Braveheart and Mrs Brown and stage credits including Be Near Me and The Miracle Man (National Theatre of Scotland), The 39 Steps (London West End) and Macbeth and Trumpets and Raspberries (Lyceum, Edinburgh).

John Bett- recently seen on stage in Communicado’s award-winning The Government Inspector and on the big screen in Tamara Drewe and The Golden Compass – is reveling in the opportunity to bring the crew of The Vital Spark to life. ‘I am having huge fun translating these tales into a theatrical context and trying to conjure that vanished world on stage through music, song and even film’ he says

Brimming with wit and charm, Para Handy – A Voyage Round the Stories of Neil Munro brings back to life the lost world of the River Clyde in its hey-day; a time when its piers and harbours saw traffic of goods and supplies, day trippers “going doon the watter” and the puffers bringing everything from coal to cows – (and even the occasional cockatoo) – to the communities of the Highlands and Islands.

Andrew Dixon, Chief Executive, Creative Scotland said: ‘Commissioned and developed here in the Highlands, this new production of Para Handy will introduce the wily Master Mariner and his crew to a new generation of audiences across Scotland. Creative Scotland’s Rural Innovation programme in the Highland Arts Programme focuses on work that originates and is produced in the region and directly supports our aim of investing in talent.’

Joining Jimmy onstage will be a terrific ensemble cast plus a band playing fantastic, foot-tapping live music from celebrated composer Robert Pettigrew; Para Handy’s misadventures across Scotland will be as uproarious, engaging and entertaining in 2011 as they were more than 100 years ago. All aboard The Vital Spark!

Full Tour Dates

Eden Court, Inverness

Wednesday 21st – Saturday 24th September

Tickets on sale now Tel: 01463 234 234 www.eden-court.co.uk

His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen

Tuesday 27th September – Saturday 1st October

Tickets on sale now Tel: 01224 641 122 www.boxofficeaberdeen.com

Glasgow Theatre Royal

Tuesday 4th – Saturday 8th October

Tickets on sale now Tel: 0844 871 7627 www.ambassadortickets.com

Edinburgh Festival Theatre

Thursday 13th – Saturday 15th October

Tickets on-sale 22nd April Tel: 0131 529 6000 www.fctt.org.uk

Source: Eden Court Theatre