Nomination success for hit show ‘Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour’
Two Edinburgh Napier graduates will be mixing it with the best of British theatre this weekend after being nominated for an Olivier Award.
Kirsty Findlay and Caroline Deyga are part of the hit show Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour which has seen its entire cast collectively nominated for a Best Actress in a Supporting Role gong at the awards in London on Sunday (9 April). The show has also been shortlisted for a Best New Comedy award.
Both recent graduates from Edinburgh Napier in Acting and English and Acting for Stage and Screen respectively, they are the first acting graduates from the University to be nominated for an Olivier; an award that is recognised internationally as the highest honour in British Theatre.
From the creator of Billy Elliot (Lee Hall), Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour is the uplifting and moving story of six Catholic choir girls from Oban who have been let loose in Edinburgh for one day only.
Adapted from Alan Warner’s novel and directed by Vicky Featherstone, the show has already had successful seasons at the National Theatre of Great Britain, Edinburgh Festival Fringe and recently completed a full UK tour.
Kirsty Findlay, 23 from Motherwell, said: “I feel so honoured to be nominated alongside the rest of the cast. They are all incredibly strong and beautiful women and I could not imagine this happening with another group of people.
“I’m in a group message with the rest of the cast and someone sent a message about the show being nominated for Best New Comedy as well as Best Actress in a Supporting Role. I was so chuffed for everyone but it wasn’t until I watched the nomination video and heard my name being read out that it really hit me. I was totally speechless – my Mum had to go and make me a cup of tea!”
Kirsty (above) auditioned for a place in the show after seeing it at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2015. After securing a part as an understudy, she toured internationally with the show, performing at venues in America, Australia and the Republic of Ireland.
After graduating from Edinburgh Napier in 2015, Kirsty credits her time at University as one of the contributing factors to her success so far. She actually studied Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour while she was there, something she believes helped give her confidence for when she first auditioned for the show.
She added: “I’m so grateful for all of the support that I received from the staff in the Acting and English departments at Edinburgh Napier, especially my three acting tutors Iain, Ian and Donna. I actually touched on Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour in one of my English classes which really helped me to contextualise the play and gave me a nice boost of confidence when I first auditioned.
“Over my four years at Edinburgh Napier, they couldn’t have been more supportive – I’m glad that I’m able to keep in touch with them and I still like to pop in whenever I’m near. I’m grateful for my time there.”
Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour is produced by The National Theatre of Scotland and Live Theatre. It transfers to London’s West End for a strictly-limited season later this year.
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