A Heritage Lottery funded project in Argyll has scooped ‘Best Community Event’ in the New Year’s Eve For Argyll Awards. The project ‘Coming Home Again’ created by The Walking Theatre Company, saw this vibrant group team up with the bold Lismore Youth Theatre and lead an emotional theatre walk around the island’s Heritage Museum, grounds and restored croft. The play, researched by the Youth Theatre from local record and personal stories was written by Sadie Dixon-Spain, co-founder of The Walking Theatre Company and performed by a team of professional actors alongside the Lismore-based teenage apprentices. It was an event that offered a striking tribute to those members of this tiny Highland Island community who served and gave their lives in the First World War.

The performance journey led the audience through time, a call to arms, conscription, being boarded on a boat bound for France, battle, survival or death, the day that the guns fell silent and the longed-for journey to those waiting at home. Walkers were united through the moving narrative which highlighted the innocence of a by-gone era, sharing real tears and laughter as actor and audience alike took on the lives of those Loisachs who served in World War One.

The event was a fitting tribute of remembrance and a real celebration of life and community spirit and The Youth Theatre company truly deserve the award for the commitment and talent that they brought to the event which is the first stage of a two year HLF funded project “Living History and Beyond’. This project explores the use of theatre to tell a community’s story and to draw people together through the unique ‘interactive walking theatre’ experience. 2009 will see the Youth Theatre being formally apprenticed to The Walking Theatre Company working as professional actors to incorporate `Coming Home Again’ into Lismore’s Homecoming celebrations.

Overwhelming public vote also gave The Walking Theatre Company a second award on New Year’s day, ‘Best Potential for 2009’. As a 2-year-old fledgling company born out of its rural location in Argyll’s stunning natural landscape and the need to find new ways to entertain small children without access to regular childcare, this unusual and innovative arts business has created a theatre ‘product’ that is proving its worth in the market place by supplying the growing demand from local clients as well as reaching further afield throughout Scotland. 2009 sees the company performing in eight Homecomng events including two of Argyll’s National profile events ‘Spirit of the West’ at Inveraray Castle and ‘The Hidden Jewel’ at Dunollie Castle, Oban. A brilliant and exciting start indeed for one of Scotland’s smallest theatre companies.