BY TORMOD CAIMBEUL
ADAPTED BY CATRIONA LEXY CAMPBELL
Shrapnel is the adaptation of the seminal Gaelic novel of the same title by renowned novelist, Tormod Caimbeul. It follows the journey of an enigmatic narrator as he tries to evade capture for a crime he didn't commit. Set in the darkest depths of Leith, the novel draws on Tormod Caimbeul’'s first hand experience of living in Edinburgh in the 70s but the piece also has a timeless quality. The story moves at an energetic pace as our narrator treads a sordid path through the city meeting an array of extraordinary misfits, and avoiding the psychopathic former detective, Walter Shrapnel, who is convinced that our narrator tried to murder him. With anarchic humour and powerful narrative tension, Shrapnel is novel that demands to be performed.
Theatre Gu Leòr won the Arts and Culture Award at the Scottish Gaelic Awards 2016 for Shrapnel.
“Caimbeul’s Shrapnel (2006) is one of the most challenging and formidable of the recent books of fiction...Caimbeul has a gift for dialogue, especially humorous, ironic or cynical dialogue. At times, he almost loses control of this, but there is always a sense that he is deliberately pushing at boundaries to see what the text can sustain…Shrapnel represents a major step in terms of genre development in Gaelic fiction.” - An Introduction to Gaelic Fiction by Moray Watson
TOUR HISTORY
GLASGOW: Tron Theatre, 10th-12th March 2016
EDINBURGH: Scottish Storytelling Centre, 15th-16th March 2016
INVERNESS: Eden Court , 17th March 2016
ABERDEEN: The Lemon Tree, 18th March 2016
LOSSIEMOUTH: Town Hall, 19th March 2016
STRATHPEFFER: Pavilion, 20th March 2016
ULLAPOOL: Macphail Centre, 22nd March 2016
PLOCKTON: Village Hall, 23rd March 2016
SKYE: Seall at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, 24th March 2016
NORTH UIST: Talla Chàirinis / Cairnish Village Hall: 26th March 2016
BARRA: Sgoil Bagh a’ Chaisteil/Castlebay School, 28th March 2016
STORNOWAY: An Lanntair, 1st & 2nd April 2016
GALLERY by Mihaela Bodlovic
AUDIENCE FEEDBACK:
“What a complete work of art!! High praise for every man and woman involved in it. Special!!! LOVED IT with a big dollop of cianalas/home sickness!” - Derek Murray (Radio nan Gàidheal & BBC Alba)
“It was a Gaelic 'Lanark'. Alasdair Grayand Normanhave much in common. The ability to allow their words to flow and wander where they need to be, creating an almost fantasy. Thanks to an amazing cast. Wonderful performances from all.” - Scottish Storytelling Centre, 15/03/16
“Without doubt it producing this novel for the stage must have been a challenge but everyone involved rose to the challenge with commitment in order to create a memory that will stay with me for a long time.” - Scottish Storytelling Centre, 15/03/16
“’The TGL team did well with Shrapnel at SMO, excellent.” - Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, 24/03/16
“A really lively play that the folk of Plockton loved! 5* drama.” - Plockton Village Hall, 23/03/16
“It was excellent to see it last night…I might even go again myself. Inspiring to be in Edinburgh and to see its like.” - Coinneach MacIomhair (Radio nan Gàidheal), The Scottish Storytelling Centre, 17/03/16
Credits:
From the novel Shrapnel By Tormod Caimbeul
Adaptation - Catriona Lexy Campbell
Director - Muireann Kelly
Cast:
Iain Beggs - Maclugran
Catriona Lexy Campbell - Mavis E Beattie / Elspeth Jane Elphinstone
Artair Donald - Buster Hind / John Riach
Calum Macdonald - Pc Des Maccafferty / William Cbw Robertson
Iain Macrae - Detective Sergeant Walter Anthony ‘Shrapnel’ Watson
Mairi Morrison - Effie Joan Mackay / Maria Carlotta / Mrs Dorothy Armstrong
Catherine King - Bsl Performance Interpreter
All Other Characters Are Played By The Cast.
Creative Team:
Carys Hobbs - Costume & Set Design caryshobbsdesign.co.uk
Iain Craig - Animation / Subtitle & Set Design
Matt Padden - Sound Design
The League Of Highland Gentlemen - Music
Karen Bryce - Lighting Design
Mary Jane Campbell - Translation
Frances Poet - Dramaturg
Production Team:
Hilly - Production Manager
Clare Mcneill - Technical Stage Manager
Katharina Siebert - Assistant Stage Manager
Claire Dow - Co-Producer
Kirsty Paton - Co-Producer
Linda Macleod - Administrator & Press
Beth Frieden - Education & Outreach Facilitator
Niall Walker - Publicity Design
Mihaela Bodlovic - Production Photography aliceboreasphotography.com
Leabhraichean Beaga - Publisher
