WORLD PREMIERE
DOGSTAR THEATRE COMPANY
in association with An Lanntair
present
The Stornoway Way
adapted from the novel by Kevin MacNeil
Dogstar Theatre Company are delighted be continuing their association with An Lanntair in presenting the world premiere of The Stornoway Way.
Adapted from the novel by Kevin MacNeil, the production played two performances at An Lanntair, Isle of Lewis, on 30 and 31 August and will be touring Scotland throughout October opening at the Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh, on Thursday 3 October at 7.30pm.
In this romantic tragicomedy Roman Stornoway (Naomi Stirrat), a struggling musician, and his best friend Eilidh (Rachel Kennedy) are disaffected underachievers, who use alcohol to fuel and delay their dreams of escape from the island. Eventually they make their way to the city, where Roman is smitten by the mysterious Hungarian student Eva (Chloe-Ann Tylor), and things go terribly wrong.
Irreverent, humorous and honest, this is a chance to experience and enjoy a bittersweet theatrical romcom, twisted, squeezed out and hungover, with a variety of voices from Lewis.
These are characters who are outcast from, yet inescapably part of their Hebridean culture, whether they are physically there or not, on the margins of the margin. They leave and return, struggling with their identity and their alienation from both society and each other, searching for love as a path to salvation. At times, the actors include the audience in the storytelling, inviting them to be part of this poetic, provocative and funny ceilidh play.
Kevin MacNeil’s 2005 debut novel was hailed by The Scotsman as “The best Scottish book since Trainspotting…full of wisdom, jokes, poetic language and mind-burning imagery”.
It was a Herald book of the year “whose honest bleakness is outdone by its sheer good humour and energy” (Ali Smith). The Independent described it as “a novel of consistently hilarious verbal invention.” MacNeil sees the play as a development from the novel, and a more mature and inclusive take on his earlier work.
The play is written in English and Gaelic, with a cast of three young actors Rachel Kennedy, Naomi Stirrat and Chloe-Ann Tylor and directed by Matthew Zajac, who has recently toured Scotland for the sixth time with his play the phenomenally successful The Tailor of Inverness playing to over 3000 people.
An equally important role is music and sound created by the award-winning Pippa Murphy with Indy originals and traditional songs by Willie Campbell, Kevin MacNeil and Colin Macleod. Set and Costume design is by Ali Maclaurin, Video by Jim Hope and Lighting design by Andrew Wilson.
“Does for the Western Isles what Rankin and Welsh did for Edinburgh. An alcohol-fuelled rollercoaster ride to the heights and depths of human emotion.” – The Times on The Stornoway Way
The Stornoway Way is supported by Creative Scotland
www.dogstartheatre.co.uk www.lanntair.com
LISTINGS INFORMATION
October
Thursday 3 The Brunton, Musselburgh at 7.30pm
Tickets £14.50/£9.50
Box Office 0131 665 2240 www.the brunton.co.uk
Friday 4 Adam Smith Theatre. Kirkcaldy at 7.30pm
Box Office: 01592 583302 www.onfife.com/venues/adam-smith-theatre
Saturday 5 – Eastwood Park Theatre, Giffnock
Tickets £12/£10
Box Office 0141 577 4956 www.eastwoodparktheatre.co.uk
Thursday 10 – Cottiers, Hyndland Street, Glasgow at 7.30pm
Tickets: £12
Box office 07967 113342 www.cottiers.com
Friday 11 & Saturday 12 The Studio Potterrow, Edinburgh at 7.30pm
Tickets £12
Box Office 0131 529 6000 www.capitoltheatres.com
Monday, 14 Howden Park Centre, Livingston at 7.30pm
Tickets £12/£10/£7
Box Office 01506 3407000 www.howdenparkcentre.co.uk
Tuesday 15 Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock at 8.00pm
Tickets £12
Box Office 01475 723723 www.beaconartscentre.co.uk
Wednesday 16 Eastgate Arts, Peebles at 7.30pm
Tickets £14/£12/£6
Box Office 01721 725777 www.eastgatearts.com
Thursday 17 MacRobert Arts Centre, University of Stirling at 7.30pm
Tickets £14.50/£12.50/£6.50
Box Office 01786 466666 www.macrobertartscentre.org
Friday 18 Birnam Art Centre, Dunkeld at 7.30pm
Box Office 01350 727674 www/birnamartscentre.com
Saturday 19 Village Hall, Portgordon
Tickets Taylor Pharmacy, Buckie 01542 8353341/07850459861
Monday 21 Community Hall, Gairloch
Tickets 07514 057721 www.gairlochcommunityhall.org.uk
Wednesday 23 October SEALL at Sabhal Mor Ostaig, Isle of Skye at 7.30pm
Tickets 01471 844207 www.seall.co.uk
Thursday 24, Friday 25 & Saturday 26 Eden Court, Inverness at 7.30pm
Box Office 01463 234234 www.eden-court.co.uk
Tuesday 29 Latheron Village Hall at 7.30pm
Box Office 01955 641434 www.lytharts.co.uk
Wednesday 30 Reay Village Hall at 7.30pm
Box Office 01955 641434 www.lytharts.co.uk
Running time: 2hours including one interval
Age suitability: 12+
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