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Tam O’ Shanter. Tour.

Devisor & Director - Andy Cannon.
Designer - Evelyn Barbour.
Illuminator - Tariq Hussein.
Music & Cello - Wendy Weatherby.
Cast - Here.
Company - Wee Stories.
Venue - The Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh. 0131 228 1404
Date & Time - 17 October 2004 at 2pm & 5pm then tours to
Full Tour details - Here
Run Time - 1 hrs 10 mins NO interval.
Reviewer - Georgina Merry.

Into the Halloween spirit.

Standing on a low stool with one leg lifted up behind him Andy Cannon as Tam is riding Meg the grey mare who is indicated by the white tail he is holding out behind him in one of his hands.
Tam O'Shanter - Wee Stories.
Andy Cannon
© Kevin Low 2004.
On a Halloween night narrator Andy Cannon finds himself at his old school. Soon he’s back in a Halloween past where he remembers being taught the legendary tale of Tam of Shanter Town. Using his successful interpretation – combining both his own dialect with the old Scots text – he brings the story of Tam O’ Shanter to life, bursting anew with energy in a fun and accessible piece of interactive theatre. Unusual words and phrases are explained clearly without coming across as a lecture or a school lesson. His music teacher, Wendy Weatherby, then appears and provides a fitting soundtrack to the piece as well as supplying a hat – or a bunnet – for Tam. We get acquainted with the fabulous poem in three very different and involving ways. It makes for great entertainment.

The set consist of cupboards and boxes – as any classroom might. What they contain I shall leave as a surprise. But I will say that they do not contain stationery and they don’t remain stationary! One might think that this isn’t quite befitting for a tale set mainly in an old haunted Kirk (church) yard. However, Andy uses the schoolroom as a blank canvas for the many places Tam visits throughout the prose. When he sits in the pub drinking – we are right there with him. When he spots the witches dancing to the devil’s music – we watch too, and we are engrossed!

The sheer intimacy of this performance means the audience play a major part. At one stage they play many parts! Towards the end they are asked to help recount the famous party scene in the old haunted Kirk. Throughout the performance Andy brings everyone in close from the often distant auditorium and speaks with them with welcomed familiarity. Buts it’s not just one for the children - it’s a great all-rounder and you’ll laugh aplenty. It will definitely get you into the Halloween spirit.
© Georgina Merry 17 October 2004 - Published on EdinburghGuide.com

This company has just received the Equity Award for Best Show for Children and Young
People in the 2004 TMA Theatre Awards for Arthur, The Story of a King, a co-production between Wee Stories and the Scottish Touring Consortium co-created by Andy Cannon, Iain Johnstone and David Trouton. Edinburghguide Review here.

Cast of Tam O’ Shanter.
Narrator – Andy Cannon.
Miss Glachlan – Wendy Weatherby.

Full Tour Dates for Tam O’ Shanter.
19 Oct at 11am KIDFEST, New Kilpatrick Church Hall, Bearsden 0141 931 5083
20 Oct at 2pm Volunteer Rooms, Irvine 01294 274059.
21 Oct at 1pm Cumbernauld Theatre 01236 732887.
22 Oct at 2pm & 23 Oct at 11:30am North Edinburgh Arts Centre 0131 315 2151
26 Oct at 11am & 2pm, The Barbican, London 020 7638 8891
28 Oct at 7pm Fortrose Arts Venue (Academy) 01381 621 252
29 Oct at 10:30am & 1:30am – 30 Oct at 2pm & 7pm Spectrum Centre, Inverness 01463 234 234
Tour Ends.


Theatre Editor, Thelma Good's e-mail is thelma@edinburghguide.com

Although every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information presented in these pages, no responsibility can be accepted for any errors or omissions.

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