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| HAMISH MACDONALD |
A Festival of Theatre for Highland 2007 is surely a fine idea. I first became aware of it thanks to an email circulated by George Gunn, who I believe originated the idea, some months back.
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However, it must be ensured that the execution of this idea is not something greatly removed from its original context: an opportunity to celebrate the work of Highland based theatre companies.
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Already this original idea has grown into something bigger – something of national and even international dimensions, and that is also a very fine thing. But how often at our meetings and in our discussions do we hear of the Highland position, of that feeling of marginalisation within Scotland and the wider world, due to a combination of geographical isolation and perceived urban bias?
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What we therefore must not allow to happen is to find ourselves marginalised within this festival, as a mere add-on or background voice to the whole piece, and ensure that Highland theatre companies play a balanced role in the programme.
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In 2003, Jack McConnel supported the 2007 venture by pledging the Executive’s financial support and saying: “This initiative is a great chance to showcase the very best of the Highlands unique and diverse cultural talents”.
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It is difficult at the moment to see what the “great chance” will mean to the people involved at the coalface of producing art in the Highlands, grinding out a daily existence from it. But no one is going to do it for us. The proposed festival could be the window, as far as theatre companies go.
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Highland culture! What is it and who decides? James VI once put a plan in place to murder the entire population of the Western Isles and I guess in terms of popularity we’ve come a long way since then.
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Let us give thanks to Glengarry and that first ever manifestation of popular Highland entertainment, when four sturdy kilted fellows were ordered to engage in a contest to twist the legs from a cow – offering a fat sheep as a prize.
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There may be haggis. There will be tartan. Cyclists will pit their mettle against the formidable slopes of the Ben. There will be other things, and doubtless many of them will be fine. Stories will be told. Songs sung. Grey suited men will come and go, with siller clinking in their pooches. Will there be a festival of theatre, with Highland work at its core?
Joint Artistic Director, Dogstar Theatre |
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| December 2008 Editorial |
H2007 Evaluated
Posted by Commissioning Editor, Kenny Mathieson, on
Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:01:00 GMT |
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