The Tailor of Inverness (UK premiere)
Krawiec z Inverness

Now I am here. I am from here. I speak the language of here.

The Tailor of Inverness is written and performed by one actor, Matthew Zajac, and directed by acclaimed Grid Iron director Ben Harrison with a live score from two of Scotland’s finest traditional fiddlers, Jonny Hardie and Gavin Marwick.

Inspired by the life of Matthew’s father, this is the story of a boy who grew up on a farm in Galicia (Eastern Poland, now Western Ukraine) and became a tailor in Inverness, of how a life and an identity can be reconstructed. The tailor’s life spanned most of the 20th century, and the journey he took was made by thousands of Poles during the Second World War. His was a forced migration, subject to the brutal vagaries of war. Before settling in Scotland, he travelled and fought throughout Europe, the Soviet Union, the Middle East and England.

In a new country, he became a new man and integrated himself into the fabric of Highland life. He made clothes for thousands of people, including himself, constructing the outward trappings which play a part in defining who we are. This man’s story is not straightforward. He was one of millions whose fate was determined by massive upheavals over which he had no control. But was he really who he said he was?

Evoking the diversity of the tailor’s life through theatrical imagery, The Tailor of Inverness combines storytelling, moving and still video projections, costume and choreography and promises to be one of the memorable events of Fringe 2008.

In recent years, Inverness based Dogstar, has established itself as a leading theatre company from the Highlands of Scotland, touring extensively there and throughout Scotland and also recently to Ukraine. Recent works includes The Seer by Ali Smith, 'e Polish Quine by Henry Adam and Seven Ages by Hamish MacDonald. The Tailor of Inverness was developed with Grid Iron. This Dogstar production is supported by the Scottish Arts Council and will tour Scotland in February and March 2009.