Production History

WORLD PREMIERE IN THE HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS
Dogstar Theatre Company
presents
THE FALLEN ANGELS OF THE MOINE
A Highland Spaceport Fantasy by George Gunn

Dogstar returns to Highland stages with The Fallen Angels of the Moine, George Gunn’s highly entertaining and imaginative response to the Scottish spaceport phenomenon.  This follows on from Dogstar’s sell-out London revival of its flagship production, The Tailor of Inverness in May, and the very popular first edition of SPARK – the Highland New Play Festival at Eden Court, Inverness in January, produced in collaboration with Eden Court and Playwrights’ Studio Scotland.
2024 is shaping up to be a significant year for Dogstar and Highland theatre with these developments.  Dogstar’s tour of The Fallen Angels of the Moine will take place in areas of the Highlands & Islands the company is prioritising, launching a programme of playwriting and theatre making development work for teenagers and adults, taking place in secondary schools and community venues during 2024-25.

THE FALLEN ANGELS OF THE MOINE
The bogs of Caithness and Sutherland have been the source of myth, legend, strange events and sightings throughout history. Kelpies, feachs, fairies and other weird and supernatural tales provide a rich folklore.

The Shee have travelled across the universe through time to reside beneath the great bog of the Moine. Why they have come and how long they have been there, no one will ever know. These creatures are travellers and the dimensions they exist in are beyond human knowledge. Now, they plan to leave.  The gods look down on our poor little Earth.

The Fallen Angels of the Moine is a kind of warning, a miniature epic drama taking its audience on an extraordinary journey full of poetry, music and light, full of mystery, humour and hard facts.  Its characters are ordinary people, the gods and the earth beneath our feet: Cait Mackay, recently returned to her home on the north coast, has an ancient bond with the Moine; Cianna Swann, a hydrologist working for a research institute, observes and analyses it; Robbie Oliphant, its political representative, is corrupted and possessed by the forces which control him - the Council, the Enterprise Company, the US defence contractor, MI5 and the Mad Irishman inside his head.  Lucifer, Gabriel and the healer An Slanagher argue over the fate of the Moine, while Belle O’ Rangag leads Cait to the bothy of enlightenment.  And let’s not forget Feannag, the talking crow!
The Fallen Angels of the Moine was developed in 2020 and then produced and only filmed (at Universal Hall, Findhorn) at the tail-end of the Covid pandemic, early in 2022.  This tour will be the first time the production has been presented to live audiences, visiting community venues across the North Highlands & Islands.

Highlands & Islands Tour & TICKET INFO 2024

Tuesday 27th August ULLAPOOL -  MACPHAIL CENTRE
The Macphail Centre Tickets: https://tickets.highlifehighland.com or at door

Wednesday 28th August STORNOWAY -  AN LANNTAIR
Tickets: 01851 708480 or visit www.lanntair.com

Thursday 29th August ISLE OF HARRIS -  TALLA NA MARA
Tickets: [email protected] or call 01859 503 900

Friday 30th August ISLE OF SKYE -  SABHAL MOR OSTAIG SLEAT
Tickets: seall.co.uk  [email protected] or call 01471 844207

Saturday 31st August ARISAIG – ASTLEY HALL
Tickets: [email protected] or phone Ann on 01687 450263

Wednesday 4th September ROSEHALL VILLAGE HALL (NEAR LAIRG)
Tickets:  [email protected] or call 01541 441 264

Thursday September 5th WICK - MACKAYS HOTEL
Tickets: Jess Lusk [email protected] 07876 742884 (Dogstar promotion)

Friday 6th September MELNESS COMMUNITY CENTRE – NORTH COAST
Tickets: Pam 01847 601363 or Karen 01847 601306

Saturday 7th September REAY HALL CAITHNESS
Tickets: [email protected] or call Nicky on 07763622249

ARCTIC WINDS PART 1 2022
THE FALLEN ANGELS OF THE MOINE BY GEORGE GUNN
NIGHTLANDS BY JACK MACGREGOR

Dogstar emerged from the pandemic with a brand new project.
Arctic Winds encompasses two thematically-linked new plays from the Highlands. Part 1 saw these plays rehearsed, produced and filmed for screenings in some venues across Scotland and online to school groups in the Highlands & Northern Sweden as part of the project's Creative Learning Programme, delivered in partnership with our long-term collaborators, Profilteatern. The project was supported by Creative Scotland, the Fraser Foundation & the Scottish Government's Arctic Connections Programme.
Nightlands is the debut play by Jack MacGregor, an exciting new theatre maker from Inverness and Dogstar Associate Artist. The Fallen Angels of the Moine, on the other hand, is by the Highlands’ most experienced and prolific playwright, George Gunn. Filming of the productions took place at Universal Hall, Findhorn in February 2022, directed by Brian Ross (Circling A Fox, No One But Me, Shetland Lone Star).

"Absolutely amazing. Beautiful, funny and sad.
Terrific theatre. Thank you."
AUDIENCE MEMBER, STORNOWAY

The Stornoway Way - 2019
by Kevin MacNeil
“As an ensemble, they tick like a Swiss watch, darting here and there without missing a beat. And they can’t half belt out a tune… MacNeil’s play is at least as good as his novel, and the novel was very good indeed.” Michael Russell, West Highland Free Press

“Love, whisky, self-destruction, Lewis, jokes, songs, writer Kevin MacNeil’s zen wisdom, all wrapped up with an ace cast…ingenious design…powerful characters….an absorbing drama – that’s The Stornoway Way.” Margaret Chrystall, Inverness Courier

Kevin MacNeil's adaptation of his acclaimed novel The Stornoway Way opened at An Lanntair, Stornoway on August 30th & 31st 2019 prior to a Scottish Tour. The show features a vibrant ensemble of three young women - Naomi Stirrat, Rachel Kennedy & Chloe-Ann Tylor with songs in Gaelic and English by Kevin, Willie Campbell & Colin MacLeod

LETS INHERIT THE EARTH by Morna Pearson 2018 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, touring in Scotland and Sweden

CAST

Lina Hognert
Jan Karlsson
Sarah McCardie
Tobias Morin
Matthew Zajac

Directed by Ben Harrison
Designed by Ulla Karlsson
Music & Sound by Jonny Hardie
Songs arranged by Brian MacAlpine
Lighting by Martin Ogland
Masks by Jacob Petersson

"...quite simply a show and a half...Let’s Inherit The Earth emerges as one of the most anarchic, timely and memorable shows on the Fringe” Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman

“...a punchy, powerful reminder that we could be doing a whole lot more to ensure that our children do inherit the earth” Claire Wood, The Wee Review

“a rowdy piece of popular theatre written by Morna Pearson and accompanied by an exceptionally catchy, original pop-punk score by Jonny Hardie” Broadway World

THE SKY IS SAFE by Matthew Zajac 2017
WINNER ! of Summerhall's LUSTRUM AWARD for OUTSTANDING THEATRE at the Edinburgh Festival 2017

CAST

Dana Hajaj
Matthew Zajac

Directed by Ben Harrison
Set by Nihad Al Turk
Costume by Ali Maclaurin
Music and sound by Pippa Murphy

"...an emotionally charged and politically powerful masterpiece... a beautiful and accessible script about the Syrian tragedy… The energy and chemistry between both performers, including Zajac himself, is hypnotising…Dana Hajaj, gives an extraordinary and emotionally draining performance...book your tickets now."
Mariam Larranzair, Edinburgh Festivals Magazine

"...a magnified insight into the complex turmoil experienced by female refugees…The Sky is Safe feels like necessary theatre."
Tara Fitzparitck, Common Space

"Don't miss a chance to see it." Keith Bruce, The Herald

CAST

Matthew Zajac as Mungo Park
Anders Budde Christensen
Kingsley Amadi

Directed by Martin Lyngbo
Written by Martin Lyngbo and Thor Bjorn Krebs
Dogstar is delighted to be working with one of Scandinavia’s most innovative and popular independent theatre companies, Mungo Park Arts Centre of Copenhagen to bring a highly entertaining and epic adventure story to audiences - the story of the Scottish explorer Mungo Park.

The Tailor of Inverness by Matthew Zajac 2008 to 2019

Winner Best Actor Award 2009 Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland
2008 Scotsman Edinburgh Festival Fringe First Award Winner
The Stage Award for Best Solo Performer Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2008
Holden Street Theatre Award, Adelaide Fringe Festival 2008
Nominated Best Theatre Production & Best Theatre Performance Adelaide 2009

"...a beautifully realised tale of the reality of survival in war-torn Eastern Europe...Matthew Zajac's moving performance is a triumph of evocative staging and storytelling." The Observer

Sweetness by Kevin MacNeil 2011
adapted from the novel by Torgny Lindgren

"Sweetness is a piece of skewed, post-modern storytelling that revels in its own oddness. There's something at the heart of such a wild piece of contemporary folklore that says something about the ruthlessness of creation itself." The Herald

The Captain's Collection by Hamish MacDonald 1999,2000, revived 2012

Adapted into a 4-part series for BBC Radio Scotland - Winner of the Golden Torc for Best Radio Production Celtic Film & TV Awards 2000
“An engrossing treat…fascinating and provocative music theatre pulling together history, storytelling, cultural politics…and some hilarious madcap humour.”
Sue Wilson, The Scotsman

Seven Ages by Hamish MacDonald 2001,2004 & 2007

Performance Award Winner, Ternopil Theatre Festival, Ukraine.

"Terrifically well done...ambitious, stylish and very popular, and a timely reminder of the quality of performers all over Scotland."
Robert Dawson Scott The Times

'e Polish Quine by Henry Adam 2007

“…a rich, responsible and deeply poetic piece of work which powerfully links traditional life on the land in Aberdeenshire both with the ferment of post-war Britain and with the hell through which millions of European farms and villages had just passed. Matthew Zajac and Dogstar are to be congratulated on a gallant, heartfelt attempt to give this major play the public platform it deserves.”
Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman

The Strathspey King by Hamish MacDonald 2003

“…a fine ensemble cast deliver strong performances in what is a powerful look at good and evil, displacement and assimilation – and what, if anything, separates man from beast.” Metro

Factor 9 by Hamish MacDonald 2014 and 2019/20

opened for a week at Profilteatern's Festival of Horror & Art (Skrackfestival) in Umea, Sweden in March 2014, part of Umea's year as European Capital of Culture. Further dates in Denmark & Wales were followed by a Scottish tour during April. We were thrilled to work again with Ben Harrison who worked so successfully with us on The Tailor of Inverness. We are also worked for the first time with the highly accomplished designer Emily James, lighting designer Paul Claydon and composer Pippa Murphy.

"...a furiously skilful play. Everything works: the timing of the actors, the lighting, the sound and video projections...Be sure to see it. It is an important play about a dark time."
Anders Sjogren, Vasterbottens Kuriren

The Baroness by Thor Bjorn Krebs 2013
“Roberta Taylor gives a powerful, vivid performance as Blixen, with Ewan Donald in fine form as the poet, and Aidan O’Rourke providing some terrific, jarring recorded violin music.”
Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman

Jacobite Country by Henry Adam 2010

"A wild, roving comedy that takes the cliches of the male Scots psyche that attempts to bridge the cultural tug-of-war between hand-me-down myth and more modern times. Adam's preoccupations resemble those of American writer Sam Shepard's own relationship with the Wild West, which the Highlands can arguably be said to be the equivalent of..." The Herald