The Heretic’s Tale by Hamish MacDonald 2006
“This latest show from Inverness-based Dogstar is stuffed to the brim with incident, history, madness and fascination.” Joyce MacMillan The Scotsman
Directed by Stephen Docherty
Elspeth Buchan – Annie Grace
Andrew Innes – Matthew Zajac
Designed by David Ramsay
Costumes by Angelina Gerrard
Lighting by Cara Wiseman
Music by Amy Geddes
Soundscape by Andy Thorburn
Technical Manager Cara Wiseman
DSM Sholto Bruce
Stage Manager John Spiers
Graphic Design Karen Sutherland
Publicity Photography Laurence Winram
Produced by Hamish MacDonald & Matthew Zajac
Elspeth Buchan – Feminist icon, fraudster, hypnotist or Holy Ghost ?
Come and join the bairns of God on a journey to the Promised Land…
The story of 18th century heretic Elspeth Buchan and her followers is one which shocked Calvinist Scotland. Disposing of the conventions of marriage, property and orthodox religion, the Buchanite cult at its height attracted some 80 followers; drawn from gentry, merchant classes and the humblest of orders of society. Ridiculed, physically attacked by the populace or banished by local magistrates, they set off on their journey through southwest Scotland, the chosen race who would ascend into the air when the millennial prophecy was fulfilled.
What drove Elspeth Buchan to flout the conventions of her time and suffer the mockery and ire of the established church and authorities ? How did she succeed in gathering 80 devoted disciples ?
Directed by Stephen Docherty
Elspeth Buchan – Annie Grace
Andrew Innes – Matthew Zajac
Designed by David Ramsay
Costumes by Angelina Gerrard
Lighting by Cara Wiseman
Music by Amy Geddes
Soundscape by Andy Thorburn
Technical Manager Cara Wiseman
DSM Sholto Bruce
Stage Manager John Spiers
Graphic Design Karen Sutherland
Publicity Photography Laurence Winram
Produced by Hamish MacDonald & Matthew Zajac
Elspeth Buchan – Feminist icon, fraudster, hypnotist or Holy Ghost ?
Come and join the bairns of God on a journey to the Promised Land…
The story of 18th century heretic Elspeth Buchan and her followers is one which shocked Calvinist Scotland. Disposing of the conventions of marriage, property and orthodox religion, the Buchanite cult at its height attracted some 80 followers; drawn from gentry, merchant classes and the humblest of orders of society. Ridiculed, physically attacked by the populace or banished by local magistrates, they set off on their journey through southwest Scotland, the chosen race who would ascend into the air when the millennial prophecy was fulfilled.
What drove Elspeth Buchan to flout the conventions of her time and suffer the mockery and ire of the established church and authorities ? How did she succeed in gathering 80 devoted disciples ?
Through the eyes of her most devoted follower, Andrew Innes, the play examines the makings of a cult leader
Through the eyes of her most devoted follower, Andrew Innes, the play examines the makings of a cult leader and charts the rise and decline of The Buchanites as they journeyed through the south west of Scotland awaiting Armageddon and their translation to heaven. On the 50th anniversary of her death, Innes lifts the mummified remains of his beloved Elspeth from the walled chamber he has had specially built. This, finally, will be the Day of Judgement ! Innes will be vindicated ! But before the fateful hour arrives, listen and watch as the story unfolds, the story of Elspeth Buchan, Friend Mother in the Lord….
The play was staged on two small rectangular stages, linked by a narrow walkway. The audience sat on either side of the walkway and was at times drawn into the action, implicated as members of the sect, the Irvine mob and all the misguided sinners who are doomed to perish in a sea o’ boilin brimstane as the world burns !
The Heretic’s Tale was performed for one night only in April 2005 as part of The Story Nation, a weekend of performances and storytelling about some of Dumfries and Galloway’s most famous sons and daughters. Hamish and Matthew were keen for the play to have a wider audience and made a successful application to the Highland Producers’ Fund to tour it. The production’s intimate and unusual staging gave it an immediacy which was both arresting and challenging, pulling our audiences into the world of these religious fanatics. The play succeeded in treading a difficult line between a compassion and absurdity, exposing the folly of fanaticism while retaining sympathy for individual characters caught up in it.
“Both actors performed heroically, bring real passion and commitment as well as convincing technique to their roles. Buchan’s doomed quest unfolded in absorbing fashion, and the writer succeeded in producing a rounded portrait of the leader, rather than the caricature she could so easily have become.”
Kenny Mathieson Inverness Courier
The production was supported by a project grant from the Highland Producers’ Fund.
The play was staged on two small rectangular stages, linked by a narrow walkway. The audience sat on either side of the walkway and was at times drawn into the action, implicated as members of the sect, the Irvine mob and all the misguided sinners who are doomed to perish in a sea o’ boilin brimstane as the world burns !
The Heretic’s Tale was performed for one night only in April 2005 as part of The Story Nation, a weekend of performances and storytelling about some of Dumfries and Galloway’s most famous sons and daughters. Hamish and Matthew were keen for the play to have a wider audience and made a successful application to the Highland Producers’ Fund to tour it. The production’s intimate and unusual staging gave it an immediacy which was both arresting and challenging, pulling our audiences into the world of these religious fanatics. The play succeeded in treading a difficult line between a compassion and absurdity, exposing the folly of fanaticism while retaining sympathy for individual characters caught up in it.
“Both actors performed heroically, bring real passion and commitment as well as convincing technique to their roles. Buchan’s doomed quest unfolded in absorbing fashion, and the writer succeeded in producing a rounded portrait of the leader, rather than the caricature she could so easily have become.”
Kenny Mathieson Inverness Courier
The production was supported by a project grant from the Highland Producers’ Fund.
 |
The Heretic’s Tale opened at Strathpeffer Pavilion and toured to the following venues:
|
