NTS and Communicado Theatre Company bring back Calum’s Road

19 Apr 2013 in Dance & Drama, Highland

Communicado Theatre Company and the National Theatre of Scotland present

Calum’s Road

Adapted by David Harrower, from the book by Roger Hutchinson

Directed by Gerry Mulgrew

Creative team: Gordon Davidson (Design), Sergey Jakovsky Lighting Design. Alasdair Macrae (Music), Malcolm Shields (Assistant Direction Movement) John McGeoch (Video Design).

Cast: Angela Hardie, Lewis Howden, Ceit Kearney, Alasdair Macrae, Iain Macrae and Ben Winger

Touring to: Ayr, Greenock, Dumfries, Perth, Musselburgh, Arbroath, Edinburgh, Kirkcaldy, Stranraer, Inverness, Ullapool, Isle of Skye and Stirling.

Calum’s Road, was a massive hit with audiences, when it toured Scotland originally in 2011, playing to sell out houses. This year, due to popular demand, Communicado and the National Theatre of Scotland are re-mounting David Harrower’s elegiac adaptation of Roger Hutchinson’s book and the production will be back on the road for eight weeks from May to July. Alasdair Macrae, Ian Macrae, Ceit Kearney and Angela Hardie return to recreate their original roles and will be joined by Lewis Howden and Ben Winger.

“A lyrical, musical and elegiac ensemble production” The Guardian * * * *

“The story told here is of such wisdom and significance that it sweeps objections aside, and moves many in the audience to tears.” The Scotsman * * * *

Calum’s Road tells the remarkable true story of one man’s single-minded determination to challenge the powers-that-be. Based on Roger Hutchinson’s book of the same name, Scottish playwright David Harrower brings to the stage the richly detailed description of a dying way of life in northern Raasay.

Calum MacLeod, having battled the inaction of authorities on Raasay for years, sets off alone with a pick, a shovel and a wheelbarrow to build a road that will connect up the island. His daughter has been forced to board at secondary school on Skye and now Calum wants to turn the tide of neglect and indifference and keep his family – and his community – together.

His unpaid labour of love was to dominate the last 10 years of Calum’s life and leave behind a legacy – both practical and poetic – carved into the landscape he loved.

Roger Hutchinson, originally from Lancashire, now living on Raasay, is an award-winning author and journalist. His book The Soap Man was shortlisted for the Saltire Book of the Year (2004) and Calum’s Road was shortlisted for the Ondaatje Prize (2007) and he is also the author of Walking to America and Father Allan. His latest book, The Silent Weaver: The Extraordinary Life and Work of Angus MacPhee was also made into a theatrical production in 2012.

David Harrower lives and writes in Glasgow. He has written several plays including Knives in Hens, Kill the Old, Torture Their Young and Blackbird which won the Critics Award for Theatre in Scotland and the Olivier Award for Best Play in 2007. Other work includes A Slow Air, which he wrote and directed for the Tron Theatre Company, which also went to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Good With People at the Traverse for the 2012 Edinburgh Festival Fringe a double bill with David Greig.

Calum’s Road is directed by Gerry Mulgrew. Under his Artistic Directorship, Communicado has presented over thirty pieces of original theatre. He has written and performed in many of the company’s productions, and directed the majority of them himself. He is also a highly acclaimed actor and joint winner, with Keith Fleming, of the Best Actor 2011 Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland award for Dundee Rep and National Theatre of Scotland’s production of Peer Gynt. Recent productions include The Government Inspector and Tam O’Shanter.

Artistic Director of Communicado, Gerry Mulgrew says

“Communicado is very pleased, this year, 2013, to be celebrating its 30th birthday, and doubly pleased to be renewing our association with National Theatre of Scotland.”

Angela Hardie (Young Julia). Theatre credits include: A Christmas Carol, Equus and Johanna in Sweeney Todd: the Musical (Dundee Rep)Spring Awakening (Grid Iron/Traverse Company), Killing Brando (Oran Mor) and the original production of Calum’s Road and Tall Tales for Small People (Communicado/National Theatre of Scotland).

Ceit Kearney (Julia/Lexie). Theatre work includes Rent Strike: The Battle of Govan (Cran), The Hard Man (Scottish Actors Studio), Blood Wedding (Annexe) Every Bloody Sunday (GTF) and the original production of Calum’s Road and Tall Tales for Small People.

Lewis Howden (Iain) has worked in theatre, film, television and radio for nearly 30 years. Recent theatre work includes: The Artist Man & Mother Woman, Any Given Day, Knives in Hens, Loose Ends, (Traverse) and A Slow Air ( Tron Theatre , 59E59 NY and The Tricycle, London) and Mary Queen of Scots, Our Teachers A Troll( National Theatre of Scotland).

Iain Macrae (Calum) returns to the company to recreate his original role. Recent theatre work includes Iwas a Beautiful Day, Shimmer, Homer and Heritage (Traverse Theatre), Jekyll and Hyde (Mull Theatre) and Na Daoine (Theatre Hebrides).

Ben Winger (Alex/Young Iain) is an actor, director and sometime collaborator and has worked with theatre companies throughout Scotland. Previous productions include; The Cone Gatherers (APA), Juicy Fruits (Oran Mor/Paines Plough), Gideon and the Wooden Toppers (The Martians).

Calum’s Road is supported by Creative Scotland

Perth Theatre on Tuesday 28 & Wednesday 29 May at 7.30pm

Tickets: £16.50/£15/£11 (side circle only) includes booking fee

Box Office :01738 621031

Website: www.horsecross.co.uk

Eden Court, Inverness, on Tuesday 18 & Wednesday 19 May at 7.30pm

Tickets: £14/£12/under 18s £6.00

Box Office: 01463 234234

Website: www.eden-court.co.uk

Macphail Centre, Ullapool, on Friday 21 June at 7.30pm

Tickets: £8/£6/£3 (school pupils)

Box Office: 01854 613336