An attractive and engaging evening of theatre in two parts.
First the informal bit – BITE-SIZE…readings, encounters, questions & answers, feedback and chat offering, audiences the chance to be part of and enjoy the fun bit of the creative process.
After a short interval we present a full production of a new complete short play.
THE ELECTRIFYING MISTER JOHNSTON
commissioned by Mull Theatre from playwright & journalist Robert Dawson Scott.
A story of power – and the struggle for it…
A new play about one of Scotland’s great unsung heroes of the 20th Century, radical thinker, land reformer, scourge of the establishment and the man who brought “light to the glens”, Tom Johnston. This political and human story focuses on the life and work of one of Scotland’s great unsung heroes of the 20th Century. Once described by Churchill as the ‘King of Scotland’, Johnston arguably did more for the country than any other politician of the 20th century. The story of the play centres on his struggles to bring hydro-electric power to the Highlands and Islands through incredible feats of engineering which transformed the lives of everyone in the north of Scotland.
As late as the 1950s most rural communities in the Highlands were still lit by oil lamps. The North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board, a product of Johnston’s vision and a triumph of engineering, brought electricity to these communities and changed the Highlands forever. The play contrasts Johnston’s early radical writings and beliefs with later compromises as he vies with Highland landowners for access to “their” land for the benefit of the public.
THEMES INCLUDE:
SCOTTISH HISTORY – SOCIAL STUDIES – POLITICS – ENGINEERING – INDUSTRY – GEOGRAPHY – RADICAL IDEAS – TECHNOLOGY – LAND REFORM – DRAMA – WRITING HISTORY
BITE-SIZE
a touring programme of rehearsed readings of new plays and works-in-progress, hosted by director Alasdair McCrone with a cast of professional actors. It includes excerpts from newly commissioned plays in development, submitted scripts and previews of forthcoming productions interspersed with questions and answers, feedback and chat. It aims to connect with all of our audiences and may be of particular interest to writers, poets, writers’ groups, wordsmiths, theatre-makers offering everyone the chance to be part of and enjoy the fun bit of the creative process.
Mull Theatre has run two extremely successful BITE-SIZE seasons in 2016 and 2017. Our mini-tour in 2017 saw readings / performances on Iona, on the Island of Luing, in the newly revamped Burgh Halls in Dunoon and at the Rockfield Centre in Oban. It proved to be very popular with all audiences and promoters who all made a real connection with the event, with the performers and with the work.
