As the Play Pieces season of lunchtime theatre continues at the Ironworks in Inverness, this September sees it showcasing the work of a new theatre company from Caithness and a dark, political play examining issues facing society in the Highlands and further afield.

The New Purgatory started life as a 15 minute play by George Gunn, commissioned by Iain MacDonald, a theatre student in Edinburgh, for his final year showcase.

The play dealt with a young boy from Caithness and a girl from Edinburgh who had both come to Firsay, a deserted island of the North Coast of Scotland. As they waited for the boat to take them home, they revealed snapshots of their lives to one another, finding that they had a lot in common. Both their Father’s had died on the island; one in the prison that was built to boost Firsay’s economy and the other a result of domestic spat – needless to say there was more to each death than met the eye.

Since then the play has grown, but not only in length. The characters have changed and their stories have become far more in-depth. The play deals with political topics such as Somalia, the illegal dumping of nuclear waste and Afghanistan which are all interlinked throughout the story. On a cultural level the play asks questions about emigration – what happens when place is left to wrack and ruin and what effect does that have on the people who go there, looking for answers?

Iain MacDonald set up Skraelings Theatre Company to explore work that is culturally specific to the far North of Scotland and indeed how that work can be put on stage and appeal to not only its own community, but similar communities throughout the world.

Iain writes, “The play is a pandora’s box of identity. It tackles so much in 45 minutes and all the questions it asks are vital to the cultural and political life to those in the North. It’s a very exciting play to be working on, and being a new director it’s wonderful to have a play written specifically for you to direct. Play Pieces is a fantastic project, I really hope that this time next year there will be the same opportunity to help us make more work as it is our lifeline.”

Play Pieces co-ordinator Lindsay Dunbar says “This is exactly the kind of work Play Pieces is keen to show, and supporting a new Theatre company based in Caithness is brilliant. Writers and companies in the Highlands are rich in material which can speak to audiences around the whole of Scotland and beyond.”

George Gunn is an established poet and playwright with many collections of poetry and plays published. His most recent play ‘Fields of Barely’ was toured as part of Highland Homecoming to great acclaim. On the New Purgatory, Gunn wrote “This is a young company. These are young actors. Here is a young director. This old playwright can say this: here is Scotland’s dramatic future. All it needs is support. Change comes from where you least expect it. Art always goes out in front of the tribe shining the torch to see the way ahead.”

The New Purgatory is on Saturday 3 September at the Ironworks, Inverness. Doors open 1pm and tickets are available throught the Ironworks on 0871 7894173. More information on Play Pieces, this show and theatre company is available on www.playpieces.co.uk

Source: Play Pieces