Rowan Tree Theatre Company
The Lasses, O
Scottish Tour Spring 2009
The Lasses, O, by award winning poet, author and playwright Janet Paisley, opens at Bowhill Theatre, by Selkirk, on Saturday 14 March at 7.30pm and will be touring throughout the Scottish Borders until the end of April. The play is performed by one actor, Gerda Stevenson, and directed by one of Scotland's finest directors Gerry Mulgrew. The
project, spearheaded by Gerda Stevenson, is a collaboration between
three Scottish artists whose work is highly respected both nationally
and internationally.
The 2009 Homecoming year was originally conceived to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, and his memory will play a significant part in the year's festivities. Rowan Tree Theatre Company, one of Scotland's
most established independent theatre companies, joins with these three
formidable Scottish theatre artists to create a production which takes
a completely different perspective from the all-too-familiar treatment
of Burns.
In The Lasses, O, Burns' story is told by five women in his life - all played by the
award-winning Scots actor Gerda Stevenson. These are not the usual
array of discarded mistresses and upper class patronesses that
proliferate in most representations of the poet, but are: Agnes McClure, the midwife who delivered him; Betty Davidson, an elderly relative in the Burns household who helped raise him; Mary Smith, his mother in law, who despised Burns' political views and thwarted the marriage; Katy McDowell, the daughter of a smuggler captured by Burns as excise man and Jessie Lewars, a neighbour who nursed him in his last illness
Each
woman is linked with a song by Burns which reflects her part in his
life story, and his part in hers. Their stories and characters are
lively and resourceful, and shed a completely fresh light on the roots
and influences that made him both a poet and a national icon.
Interweaving the stories will be music by multi-instrumentalists Rachel Newton and Lillias Kinsman - Blake, members of the brilliant young traditional/contemporary band Shee, both of whom have performed previously with Rowan Tree, and the cellist/percussionist Seylan Baxter.
The set and costumes are designed by Jessica Brettle and Lighting Design is by Andrew Wilson.
email: [email protected]
THE LASSES, O: TOUR SCHEDULE
Date/time: Saturday 14 March 7.30pm
Venue: Bowhill Theatre, Selkirk
Tickets: £10/£8 under 16s
Box Office: 01750 22204
Date/time: Thursday 19 March 7.30pm
Venue: Tower Mill, Heart of Hawick
Tickets: £9/£7
Box Office: 01450 360688 online www.thebooth.co.uk
Date/time: Friday 20 March 7.30pm The Lasses, O Concert
Venue: Tower Mill, Heart of Hawick
Tickets: £9/£7
Box Office: 01450 360688 online www.thebooth.co.uk
Date/time: Saturday 21 March 7.30pm
Venue: Lilliesleaf Village Hall
Tickets: £7/£4 under16s
Box Office: 01835 870239
Date/time: Tuesday 24 March 7.30pm
Venue: Town Hall, Jedburgh
Tickets: £7/£4 under 16s
Box Office: Visit Scotland 01835 863170
Date/time: Wednesday 25 March 7.30pm
Venue: Carlops Village Hall
Tickets: £7/£4 under 16s
Box Office: Les Morss 01968 660388 or Ann Smith 01968 660727
Date/time: Thursday 26 March 7.30pm
Venue: Eastgate Theatre, Peebles
Tickets: £10/£8
Box Office: 01721 725777
Date/time: Friday 27 March 7.30pm The Lasses, O Concert
Venue: Eastgate Theatre, Peebles
Tickets: £10/£8
Box Office: 01721 725777
Date/time: Saturday 28 March 8.00pm
Venue: The Wynd, Melrose
Tickets: £12/£10
Box Office: 01896 820028
Date/time: Wednesday 1 April 7.30pm
Venue: Heriot Village Hall
Tickets: £7/£4 under 16s
Box Office: Heriot PO 01875 835269, 01875 835243, Cloud Gallery, Stow 01578 730720
Date/time: Friday 3 April 7.30pm
Venue: Village Hall, Walkerburn
Tickets: £7/£4 under 16s
Box Office: Walkerburn Post Office 01896 870205
& Adrian Keddie Butchers Innerleithen -1896 830636
Date/time: Saturday 4 April 7.30pm
Venue: Wauchope Hall, Town Yetholm
Tickets: £7/£4 under 16s
Box Office: Village Shop 01573 420366
Date/time: Tuesday 21 April 7.30pm
Venue: The Maltings, Berwick-upon-Tweed
Tickets: £12/£10/£8 Early Bird tickets £5
Box Office: 01289 330999
Date/time: Wednesday 22 April 7.30pm
Venue: Buccleuch Centre, Langholm
Tickets: £10
Box Office: 01387 381197
Date/time: Thursday 23 April 7.30pm
Venue: The Hall, Coldingham
Tickets: £7/£4 unders16s
Box Office: Coldingham Post Office 01890 771831 & online www.coldingham.info
Date/time Friday 24 April
Venue: The Old Well Theatre, Moffat
Tickets: £8
Box Office: The Wine Shop, Moffat 01683 220554
Date/time: Saturday 25 April 7.30pm
Venue: Village Hall, Smailholm
Tickets: £7/£4
Box Office: Smailholm Pottery 01573 460666
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