Vivien Grahame, Sarah Haworth & Douglas Russell in
The Seer 2006
Hamish MacDonald - Artistic Director
Hamish has been involved in touring productions as producer, writer and performer in the Highlands and Islands since the mid-1980s.
He has written for BBC Scotland and the Comedy Unit, including sketches for
Naked Video, Velvet Cabaret & the Daily Sketch. He became a full-time writer in 1998.
Published in poetry, short story and fiction, works include acclaimed novel
The Gravy Star (11:9 Publishing 2001), and a novella in Scots,
The Girnin’ Gates (ItchyCoo 2003). Plays include
Redcoats, Turncoats & Petticoats ,
The Captain’s Collection,
The Strathspey King, Seven Ages,
The Heretic’s Tale and
Slainte Mhath Mr Capone. He was the inaugural Robert Burns Writing Fellow for Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association 2003-06. He has also written two series for BBC Radio Scotland: an adaptation of
The Captain’s Collection, and the original radio version of
The Strathspey King, both of which won awards at the Celtic Film & TV Festival (2000 & 2001).
Matthew Zajac – Artistic Director
Matthew is from Inverness. He studied Drama at Bristol University. He has worked as an actor for 25 years including work at the Citizens Theatre, Manchester Royal Exchange, Bristol Old Vic, Liverpool Everyman, Royal Lyceum Edinburgh, the Lyric Hammersmith, Bush Theatre and the Young Vic. He was a founder member of Plain Clothes Productions, producing, acting and directing for the company’s six productions. These included the George Devine Award Winner
Blue Night in the Heart of the West,
A Prick-Song for the New Leviathan, Wolf and
Her Sister’s Tongue. As Associate Director of Grey Coast Theatre Company, he directed
Camster and the Helmsdale Community play
The Great Bunillidh Volcano and appeared in
Songs of the Grey Coast & The Niss. Matthew has produced two films,
The Beauty of the Common Tool (1st Prize at the Palm Springs International Short Film Festival) and the digital feature
Gordon Bennett. For Licketyspit, he directed remounts of
Molly Whuppie(2003 & 2006);
Wee Witches(2005);
The Christmas Quangle Wangle (2004). Other recent work includes Creon in
Antigone (TAG), Joe Saul in
Burning Bright (V.amp/Tramway),
Long Rob in
Sunset Song (Prime Productions),
Seven Ages & The Heretic’s Tale (Dogstar),
Karl Marx’s Beard (Arches/Traverse), Mr Hansen in
Further Than the Furthest Thing (Prime Productions),
Monks (Royal Lyceum) and screen appearances in
The Planman, Taggart (ITV),
Still Game (BBC)
and the feature films
Young Adam and
Man To Man. He directed
Seven Ages (2001),
The Seer (2006) and
‘e Polish Quine (2007) for Dogstar.
Alyth McCormack ~ Associate Artist
Alyth comes from the Island of Lewis off the North West coast of Scotland. There she was brought up steeped in the Gaelic culture. Influenced by this great musical heritage, she went on to study opera & drama at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. She is well known as a singer and has toured and festivalled extensively throughout Europe and America since 1996. She features on a number of CDs including her 2000 solo album,
Am Iomall. As an actress, she has worked with TOSG, Wee Stories, Scottish Ballet, theatrecollective, Dance Productions, Theatre Workshop and, of course, Dogstar.
Jonny Hardie ~ Associate Artist
Jonny Hardie was brought up in Aberdeenshire A fine exponent of fiddle and guitar, Jonny also studied viola at the Royal Northern College of Music.
Over the last decade Jonny has toured extensively with Old Blind Dogs, and has also been involved with a variety of theatre and recording projects as a musician, musical director and producer.
Bruce MacGregor – Associate Artist
Bruce, from Inverness, is one of Scotland’s leading traditional fiddle players. He was originally taught by the late, great, Donald Riddell . He has since gone on to develop a style that captures the very essence of Highland fiddle music. As well as being the founder of Blazin’ Fiddles, Bruce has played with the Gaelic group "Cliar". He also worked as a producer and presenter for BBC Radio Scotland, developing Hamish MacDonald’s, “The Captain’s Collection” and "The Strathspey King", which won two awards at the international Celtic Film and TV Festival in 2000 and 2001.
Annie Grace – Associate Artist
Annie grew up in Lochaber and attended Glasgow School of Art. An acclaimed singer and whistle player, she was a member of the internationally successful ‘90s band
Iron Horse. She has worked on numerous other musical projects including her 2005 solo album
Take Me Out Drinking Tonight. As an actress, she has worked with the Traverse, Oran Mor, theatrecollective, RC Kelly and Dogstar.