Singing Far into the Night - the Blog

Wed 2 Nov

RESOLIS
Greg Powrie Ok, here I am at the last of the “Singing” entries, the "epiblog", if you will. Apologies first of all to the hall committee members at Resolis for the delay in submitting this, you made us so very welcome, and the dinner you cooked for us was superb, not to mention the dram post show! Thank you David Gilbert, and the rest.
This was a terrific place to round off the tour, and I suppose, given our proximity to Cromarty, we were bringing it home. Over 60 people attended, along with the author, Hamish, and the response was all we could have wished for; the audience even managed to persuade Hamish to take a bow.
So all of a sudden it’s over, and already everyone involved will be starting something else soon. As to the future of the play, we were all agreed that the epic nature of the story could really do with a bigger medium, and would make a superb film – so any backers out there...
On a slightly more personal note, this brings me to the end of an extraordinary voyage. Combined with Mull Theatre's Netta tour, I have travelled more than 5,000 miles by road, don’t know how many by sea (come on Mick, you could work it out for me!), taken in some 14 islands, and performed 52 times in almost as many venues. I have had my eyes opened in many ways since the first performance of Netta back in May, not least is the fact that I live in an extraordinarily beautiful and diverse country, as varied in topography as it is steeped in history. I think I’m like a lot of Scots; I’ve lived here a long time, but never really explored the country. These tours have given me a taste for more, and if the reaction of the public is anything to go by, there is definitely an appetite for theatre, even in the humblest of venues.
The highlights are too numerous to mention, but the head-clearing qualities of the sea, either on it, or by it, will be something I shall always treasure. Thank you to all those I have worked with, you’ve been great. Thank you, too, to the readers of this blog, I shall miss my self-imposed deadlines, and have been pleasantly surprised to find that some people actually read it. Here’s to the next time.

Pictured: The tour finally takes its toll on Hilly, who has a wee lie down before the last show

Fri 28 Oct

ULLAPOOL
Greg Powrie Driving back across the country for the penultimate show saw us heading into the familiar rain of the west coast. There was much anticipation for Ullapool amongst those who have stayed at the wonderful Ceilidh Place, and I have to say we weren’t let down. The perfectly "chilled" atmosphere was exactly what our rather tired company required. En route we had taken in the famous-gorge-who’s-name-I-can’t-remember-right-now (where’s Mick when I need him??) and witnessed the extremely low flight of a Hercules transport plane flying through a rainbow, just above our heads. A brilliant photo-op which we all managed to just miss; curses!
On arrival, Barrie, Helen and I were dispatched to the local Tesco to pick up supplies for the company’s "last supper", courtesy of Mull Theatre, and with our eyes seemingly bigger than our stomachs, we emerged with a veritable feast. Setting up at the Macphail Centre, we were informed that only 10 tickets had been booked, and as the venue is pretty sizeable, that amount wouldn’t have filled the front row. As it turned out, over 40 showed up to witness yet more of the speech meanders that make up my performance. So familiar are my fellow company members with my ability to extemporise, that it barely raises an eyebrow now, and it is definitely a case of, "What will he come up with to get back onto the script?" as opposed to "Will he come up with anything?"
Back at the digs, post show, we slowly but surely managed to empty the lounge of other guests. Perhaps they were just jealous of our spread, maybe it was Barrie’s patter, or my constant camera flashing, Helen’s singing, or maybe Harry’s carnivorous capers. What that man can do with salami, ham, and paté are beyond my humble descriptive powers. The seven of us enjoyed a lovely evening, followed by a superb breakfast this morning. And so, last but not least, back across the country to Resolis...
PS. The gorge is Corrieshalloch!

Pictured: Helen and Barrie with the midnight feast!

Thu 27 Oct

PORTMAHOMACK
Greg Powrie A slightly shorter jaunt from Tain to the small, but perfectly formed Carnegie Hall in Portmahomack today. Despite the compact size, we were able to fit the entire set into the space, and although that entails a lot more humping of kit, it does make some jobs a little easier – Clare’s lighting for instance.
This is Portmahomack’s first ever play, and we were told to expect a decent crowd; I think we could be forgiven for taking the news with a pinch of salt... The pre-show warm-up is a different routine for every actor; for some it is a habitual ritual of vocal exercises, for others a fag and some pensive looks cover it. Last night Barrie found a couple of badminton racquets, and the set wall became an impromptu net as all four of us took turns to smack a shuttlecock around. It certainly got things moving, both Barrie and myself were victims of a mysterious tummy upset, him pre-show, and self post-show, which made for a rather draining night.
We did however have an audience of more than 60, who were very enthusiastic in their response; I think because we are almost at the end, we all felt that it would be rather nice to have presented something with a few laughs for them. The feeling is exactly the same as at the end of the "Netta" tour earlier this year, but I suppose one has to remind oneself that each audience is new to the play (apart from Hilly’s Jackie who has seen the show 3 times!) and will get something from it. Certainly the comments from one gent afterwards bear that out, as he was "blown away" by the whole experience.
This morning we are back across the country to Ullapool and, fortified with a bowl of the hotel’s "porage" (perhaps it’s just posh, I’m ready to face another drive, and the sun is shining.

Pictured: The small but perfectly formed hall in Portmahomack

Wed 26 Oct

ARDROSS
Greg Powrie It always seems harder to get going again after a day off, even with only 4 shows to go. We can be grateful that we were not still on Orkney, because the incessant howling gale that has been with us for a few days would have meant we were still on Orkney! The drive along the coast to Tain, our base for the next two days, was punctuated with glimpses of huge waves battering the coast and, much as I love the crossings, I am grateful the nautical part of the tour is over.
Ardross Community Hall is another of the many "back-to-front" venues we have had to face. By this I mean that because our production is self-contained, often it is impractical to use the stage that is part of the hall. This nearly always confuses the regular audiences, and invariably puts the cast a long way from any loos! Nearly 50 turned up last night, and there were a couple of incidents to report. Helen decided to add an extra dimension to her performance, playing Erica as a consumptive. At the start of her longest speech in the play, the "gulag" scene, she suffered a terrible bout of coughing and tickly throat. To her great credit, she somehow recovered, playing the scene with even greater fervour (albeit down an octave), and the tears were real for all to see. I have been left with a legacy from Lyth. I decided to use a spare shirt for Sunday’s performance, and something has been lurking within the folds of the costume. My torso now has the texture of bubble-wrap as I have been bitten all over the place, and the itching made for a very squirmy performance last night.
On another note, a little heads-up for our author Hamish; a Russian woman attended the show last night, and spoke with Helen afterwards. The story of the wolf in the aforementioned "gulag" scene should not be about a wolf, but a bear apparently. You never know who’s watching…

Pictured: Helen on stage before the show

Mon 24 Oct

LYTH
Greg Powrie Our departure from Orkney was preceded by a visit to the beautiful and simple Italian Chapel, in deference perhaps to having to perform on a Sunday. Then, after another enjoyably bouncy crossing, our rather weary troupe arrived in Lyth. The arts centre here is an utterly fantastic venue, immaculately presented and run by William Wilson, who greeted us with soup and warm rolls. He informed us that we had a full house of some 60 folk which immediately revived our flagging spirits, along with the news that dinner was to be cooked for us after the performance.
There was a slight concern pre-show as there was a brief power cut, blacking out us and a nearby village, but special thanks to Scottish Power for ensuring we had light for the performance before starting their repairs! It did mean doing the get-out using a variety of torches, but that scarcely seemed to matter, particularly to a starving Hilly who was spurred on by the smells emanating from the kitchen. The performance itself went well, with a fair amount of debate amongst the audience; apparently one lady, confused by the title of the piece, thought she was coming to see a musical...
Dinner (by candlelight) was enjoyed by all, before retiring to the foyer in front of an open fire. Having bailed out early, I’m not sure what time everyone retired, but judging by the level of Barrie’s whisky bottle this morning, I think events were remarkably restrained. We now have a day to recuperate before the final push this week. Ardross awaits.

Pictured: The Italian Chapel on Orkney

Sun 23 Oct

ORKNEY
Greg Powrie We had all been looking forward to this leg of the tour; those who had been before and those, like me, who haven’t yet ticked Orkney off as one of the islands visited. The ferry crossing was a brisk delight; CalMac don’t operate the route from Gills Bay to St Margaret’s Hope, but any disappointment at the lack of curry was made up for by the novelty of being on a catamaran without stabilisers – much more fun! We had of course preceded the crossing with the inevitable photo opportunity at John O’Groats, although we had to be quick as the heavens opened.
An evening off on Orkney was duly celebrated in good style and there were a couple of bleary eyes today. Cobwebs were blown away with a trip to the Neolithic village at Skara Brae, and the stone circle nearby, and all agreed that Orkney is quite lovely. The Orkney Arts Theatre is quite a place, and very similar in layout to the Garrison Theatre in Shetland; obviously steeped in history, with a trapdoor (we were tempted, believe me) and featuring the most extraordinary access door, situated halfway up a wall. I don’t know what the capacity of the place is, but the 27 folk who turned up decided to sit somewhere waaay at the back of the auditorium, leaving us to play to rows of empty seats. Lateness of the season, October holidays, frequency of events in the centre, and, I think probably more pertinently, lack of money were sited as reasons for things being so quiet. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that it was a little disheartening.
Still, there is always tomorrow, another venue (Lyth, in Caithness), and another chance to improve on the night before. Mick tells me that it is almost 20 years since Mull Theatre has been to Orkney, and I sincerely hope it isn’t another 20 before we come back; it’s great.

Pictured: Harry, Helen, Mick and Barrie on the way to Orkney

Sat 22 Oct

CLASHMORE
Greg Powrie A dreich but impressive drive from Lochinver to Clashmore saw our intrepid actors and their minibus reach their destination before Hilly and the van – this is unheard of, and won’t happen again! Thanks for the wee head-start Clare. Clashmore has the first of our two Carnegie Halls on this tour, and very impressive it is too, complete with stags heads adorning the walls. Surprisingly, for such a large space, the acoustic was very good, which always makes our job a little easier. One of the committee was setting out chairs for the audience, and somewhat optimistically assured us that the average crowd is around 70. You can imagine our disappointment when just before the “go” Hilly informed us there were 26 hardy souls out there; it’s just as well we don’t rely on audience reaction for this piece!
On the upside, there was the second raffle of the tour, and Harry was the proud winner of a box of chocolates at the interval. This pleased Helen no end, as she had started the show craving for chocolate, and none of us had any; Harry was kind enough to give the box to her. There was a narrow squeak in the second act when Harry decided he needed a wee sugar boost to see him through. On one of the rare occasions he came off stage, he decided to avail himself of the selection in the box; well it is dark back there, and he accidently chose the chewiest of caramels, a real filling-puller, and was in danger of mumbling his way through the remainder of the evening. I daresay he could have covered it somehow, but thankfully the offending chocolate was swallowed just prior to his final entrance. Not much else here really as most of the day was spent de-frosting from Lochinver. We were welcomed at our digs by Zac the long-haired Jack Russell, whose greeting was as warm as the rooms.

Pictured: Helen tucks into the chocs

Fri 21 Oct

LOCHINVER
Greg Powrie The drive from Gairloch was pretty awesome, and very much in the vein of four seasons in one day (or, according to Harry, four seasons in 9 miles!) - apart from the fact that it was FREEZING! Times are hard for everyone just now, but it was vaguely comical to see people emerge from their rooms this morning sporting an array of hats, hoodies and jumpers which had clearly been worn through the night. I say vaguely because I was one of them. These are strange times indeed when, as in Barrie’s case, one has to travel indoors to get to a loo during the night. You can ask him about "The Bothy"... On the upside, the famous Lochinver pie shop didn’t disappoint.
The show last night was attended by 30 folk who were warm with their reactions in spite of the temperature. I think it is fair to say that the shows are becoming a bit of a blur now, and it does take something unusual to make the evening memorable - me remembering the lines possibly. If I tell you that watching Barrie’s attempts to kill a vagrant bluebottle (who couldn’t believe its luck when the heating went on) with his copy of The Herald was my highlight of the night, it gives you some idea of what I mean. Clashmore awaits today. Clashmore...sort of rhymes with downpour doesn’t it?

Pictured: Pies, pies and more pies in Lochinver

Wed 19 Oct

GAIRLOCH
Greg Powrie Autumn struck with a vengeance today. The drive from Inverness was pretty stunning with the russets and tangerines of the trees being shown off by the sun. By the time we reached Gairloch, however, the weather had really closed in, and it was time to break out the winter woollies. I’m sure it is a picturesque spot, but even being such a keen photographer wasn’t enough to make me want to brave the hailstones. Instead the four of us turned to some serious comfort eating; for me it was apple sponge and custard, whereas Helen and Harry were undone with their choice of Death by Chocolate. As the athlete of the troupe, Barrie abstained from the pudding selection. Food, as always, seems to become the focus of each day on the road; "What time you gonna eat?" "What do you fancy?" "Hmm, nah 3pm is too early for me, I’ll be starving later if I eat then," etc etc. The cast are fortunate to have the luxury of choice, whereas Hilly, Clare and Mick are often busy with the set-up right through the day, surviving on wraps and sandwiches. Dunno how they manage it frankly.
In spite of the inclement conditions, the hall was pretty full with over 40 folk in attendance to see a much sharper show tonight. Perhaps it was the apple sponge. Compliment of the evening belongs to Barrie. Whilst doing the get-out Barrie was stopped by one of the audience who asked where he was from. The reason for asking was because he had been so impressed by Barrie’s "magnificent" accent work.
"At the top of act two, I had to look twice before I realised it was you. Your Leicestershire accent was wonderful!"
As Barrie pointed out to me, it would have been churlish to point out to said punter that his character was supposed to hail from Yorkshire. Take the compliments where you can get ‘em I say!

Pictured: Gairloch between hail showers

Tue 18 Oct

INVERNESS
Greg Powrie First performance of the week, and now we are into single figures of shows to go. Eighty or so turned up to watch, including Hamish, our author, and he was still speaking to us, so I can only presume the show was still recognisable to him. That is more of a relief than you might think. We were lucky enough to have proper dressing rooms, complete with a show relay, meaning that whilst not on stage you can follow the show. In the main auditorium of Eden Court there was a performance from the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra or something like it, and what no-one told us was that sometimes the show relays "bleed" into one another, meaning that the two shows come through the same loudspeaker. Both Barrie and Helen got a shock backstage because it sounded like Harry and I were playing to a backdrop of harps and violins!
Just as it is easy to do the last show of the week, the opposite is true of the first, although as seems customary, the audience reaction was good. Thanks, too, to the Eden Court crew, who, in spite of the weather and awkward steps to the van, very nearly beat the get-out record. There is not much else to report here; there was no travelling, and as the company was split over the week-end, if there were any episodes of madness or frivolity, I know nothing about them. The lads are all sporting new haircuts, and Helen has managed to lose some of her bags of knitting – phew, pure rock‘n’roll this tour. I wonder if Mull’s budget would stretch to a television and a hotel window?

Pictured: Mick supervises Harry's pre-show press-ups!

Sun 16 Oct

BOAT OF GARTEN
Greg Powrie The last show of the week always puts a smile on everyone’s face, and the prospect of seeing family/friends, along with staying somewhere with shops over the weekend, meant that the protracted stay in Boat of Gartens’s beautifully appointed hall was more than bearable. Cracks are beginning to show though; Harry settled down in front of his laptop with World of Warcraft, Helen’s knitting has reached fever-pitch, and Barrie decided to hunt for some great crested tits. He shouldn’t have bothered as Clare decided it was time to don a chicken outfit...
The show was well-attended, with a couple of show-biz pals in to encourage our endeavours. Somewhere in the audience was a very well-spoken expert; we know this because there was a running commentary throughout the show. "Mutiny!" was uttered during one of my scenes, but my favourite was during some of Harry’s "mad-acting" when the disembodied voice was heard to say, "Steady!" Sound advice of course, but not altogether helpful in the circumstances. The week-end has come just in time!

Pictured: Clare does the birdie song

Sat 15 Oct

GORTHLECK
Greg Powrie Sometimes it is difficult to remain upbeat in any tour, and there isn’t always a reason for it. The previous night’s show in Arnisdale had proved to be a triumph over adversity and - just as spirits were possibly flagging a bit - the beauty of the surroundings and the lovely reaction from those attending gave everybody a lift.
The Stratherrick Hall in Gorthleck is a lovely venue (another first for Mull), but possibly because it presented no real technical challenges, and perhaps because we are getting to the tail-end of the week, or maybe even because we had to change in a cold toy cupboard, it was difficult to feel particularly inspired. I have always held the romantic notion that I was born in the wrong decade, and should have been touring shows in the 1940s or 50s when there was a plethora of small theatres and rep companies all over the country. You know, chasing the dream, living out of a suitcase, constantly searching for digs, hoping there’s hot water, and judging everything on the quality of the breakfast in the morning. Oh, wait a minute...
In the face of such a despondent outlook last night, I was reminded by one of the 17 in the audience just how important bringing this type of theatre to small communities is, as he was highly complimentary about the company’s efforts. Those attending had loved it, and their reaction at the end was generous and vocal. I should stop sounding surprised, but it is easy to forget when you’re a little jaded, that audiences are coming to the show for the first time, and the majority of them see very little, if any, professional productions in their respective halls. So, lessons learned, and let’s see what Boat of Garten brings. Besides, Helen is recharged after trips to Primark and M&S (we are staying in Inverness, a city!) Harry and I have new pants, and Barrie’s laundry is done, so anything is possible!

Pictured: Mick's favourite job - dismantling the staging after the show!

Fri 14 Oct

ARNISDALE
Greg Powrie Imagine, if you will, sitting down in your living room, when suddenly the door opens and a theatre company sets up a show and performs it in front of you; this is the reality of The Ceilidh House in Arnisdale. There was much head-scratching and a certain amount of harrumphing on our arrival at this venue as Mull Theatre hadn’t been here before, and didn’t know what to expect. If I tell you that the venue is smaller than Mull’s old base, The Little Theatre, you will have some idea of the size, and therefore the challenge that was presented to us.
As is often the case in unlikely scenarios, the evening turned out to be quite special. The set was completely pared down, with most of it remaining in the van, and we were left with a few lights, the gates, and not much else. The location of the hall is stunning, lying at the end of some 20 miles of single track road, and surrounded by hills and bordering a loch. We were treated to an amazing sunset, mid set-up, and we all came out to take identical photographs.
The population of Arnisdale is 25 apparently, but somehow we managed to squeeze 36 folk in, ironically our largest crowd for some time, and could see the whites of their eyes! Radical change concentrates the mind wonderfully, and despite some epic extemporising from me, we enjoyed a really good show. This was the first play Arnisdale have had, and if the reaction was anything to go by, it won’t be their last. There was even an amazing selection of cake provided at the end of the show, so many thanks to Emma and John at The Ceilidh House. We will be back I hope.

Pictured: The sunset at Arnisdale

Thu 13 Oct

PORTREE
Greg Powrie Tonight we played the Aros Centre in Portree, and it couldn’t have been more different from Raasay. The auditorium’s acoustic was the total opposite to last night's, and required a quite different approach to the performance. Added to this challenge was the "Easdale" configuration of the set, and yet again the team of Hilly, Mick and Clare ensured that all worked smoothly. We had a fairly small crowd, but with a couple of folk from Creative Scotland in attendance, along with a surprise visit from Alasdair, our director, we ensured that the naked tap-dance sequence was omitted from tonight’s performance. (Could be a big mistake, we might have secured further funding for that).
Although we are not quite at the final countdown with another 2 weeks to go, there is a definite feel of things coming to a close. Firstly, the bag count in our minibus has inextricably risen. Something happens on this type of tour, and it becomes increasingly difficult to chuck stuff away; plastic bags which may be "useful" seem to accumulate at an alarming rate. My 3 tins of beans, which have been with us since we left Mull, Helen’s ever-increasing wool pile and doll stuffing, empty bags of Haribo Mix and other travel-related detritus seem to fill every spare corner of the bus. There is talk, too, of how many more times laundry needs to be done, and whether one’s pants supply will reach the end. The bus is beginning to whiff gently of costumes that cannot be cleaned; not exactly glamorous. However, there is always Febreze and the thought of the open road to keep spirits high.
Also, you never know what tomorrow will bring. Hmm, actually we do; the drive to the remote venue at Arnisdale.

Pictured: Over the sea to Skye

Wed 12 Oct

ISLE OF RAASAY
Greg Powrie There are highs and lows on every tour, and this one is no exception. Helen has had a pretty miserable 72 hours, having been sick as the proverbial dog during most of that time. To her great credit she has remained stoic and humorous throughout, despite our vomit jokes, and I’m delighted to report that she is on the mend. Most of us hadn’t been to Raasay before, and peering at the island from the ferry hut at Sconser, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Right from the lovely 25min crossing, it was clear we were in for a treat. The weather brightened up, and the welcome at the hotel was fantastic; whilst the rooms weren’t ready, the staff couldn’t have been more helpful in ensuring that a place for Helen was found, and that she was able to get some sleep. This I think has gone a long way to aiding her swift recovery.
Harry, Barrie and I went for a jaunt to the north of the island to see Calum’s Road, and were treated to some truly breathtaking scenery and wildlife. We saw a kestrel, a stag, and a herd of spotted pigs which ambushed us in some woods – we all pretended to be quite nonchalant, but honestly, the way they advanced on us in a sort of pincer movement was a little menacing... I will struggle to decide which photograph to supply with this entry as there are so many to choose from, however the one with Harry & Barrie exiting from a closet in the hall, with the former wearing a pink cowboy hat, is available for a price!
The performance at the hall is probably still going on, such was the echo in the place. Twenty or so folk witnessed a very deliberate performance, in an attempt to tackle the acoustic, and we must have succeeded because again, the feedback was very positive. The superb hospitality at the hotel continued on our return; not only was the bar open, but the chef had supplied sandwiches for the company. A huge thank you to Lynn, Erin and all the staff, for making our stay so pleasant, making this venue my favourite so far. (I’m not just saying that because Erin has been reading the blogs!) Clare even got to sleep with one of the hotel’s cats; now that’s hospitality. So, the company (now sponsored by Immodium) returned to Portree, today, and I’m delighted to say that I finally got to observe a sea eagle during the crossing. Thanks for my badge Helen. Aros Centre awaits.

Pictured: The piggie ambush on Raasay!

Sun 9 Oct

ISLE OF BERNERAY
Greg Powrie Well, we made it! The epic weather-affected week climaxed with a show here in Berneray last night, amid fears that we may have forgotten how to do it, given that it was only the second performance in six days. The hall is situated in a pretty isolated spot, but 30 folk turned up, and the set, in its smaller configuration, didn’t fall down, was lit, sound cues intact, and the lines all uttered in more or less the right order, so we are still in good shape.
I must make a special mention here for "Wee" Helen who seems to have come down with a tummy bug, but carried on through the performance. It is one of the pitfalls of this kind of tour – what happens if you fall ill? There are travel arrangements to complete and performance commitments to fulfil, and not much you can do about it if you are feeling rubbish. I’m afraid the only jogging Helen did yesterday was from the minibus to a bleak lay-by, on the way back from the show. Luckily we had today off, with no travelling, and so hopefully she will be feeling better. There is nothing like a peaceful weekend in the Outer Hebrides to recharge the batteries...
However, our hotel seems to be the epicentre of nightlife in Lochmaddy, with high jinks going on into the early hours, complete with chanting in the car park (Hilly very nearly had words...). Just when you think it is safe, a hen party in full swing from 24hrs of celebrating has just arrived, and taken control of the bar. I know this because, along with the majority of the company, I have a room directly above them. For some reason the girls have just launched into a stomping version of "All Things Bright and Beautiful". Well, it is the Sabbath.

Pictured: The hall at Berneray

Thu 6 Oct (later)

ISLE OF TIREE
Greg Powrie The challenge is not so much what to do on a CalMac ferry in a gale, because at least you are going somewhere – even if it is returning from the destination you never quite made. No, the challenge is what to do whilst waiting for the ferry. This rather depends upon where you are waiting; we have been both lucky and unlucky in this respect. As I write this I am on a windswept Tiree, and with further gales predicted, there is no guarantee that our boat will make it here to take us back to Oban.
We were supposed to have left Oban far behind, with performances on Coll, Tiree, Barra, and South Uist ahead this week, but as things stand only Tiree’s show has happened, and Isle of Berneray’s show on Saturday is pretty much dependant on whether we get off tonight. It is a pity that the whole week’s schedule has been thrown out the window, but no surprise to those who live on the islands I guess. It is frustrating though, as all of us were particularly looking forward to this week of the tour.
So, how do we kill the time? On the boats it is pretty straightforward. The canteen is generally the first port of call, either for the famous “Selection of Six” CalMac breakfast, or to see which curry is on the specials board. For all of us, it is a relief not to be on a van or minibus, and for a short time at least, the responsibility of getting from A to B is in someone else’s hands. This is most obviously seen in Hilly, our Company Stage Manager. He is one of the most energetic men I have met, and is superb at keeping things moving (sometimes very quickly!) but on a boat, he appears to be quiet and reflective. Recharged, he is first off, where possible, as soon as we are at our destination! Mick, another of our Stage Management team, constantly monitors our situation when timetables go awry. Years of Highland & Island touring means that his experience of the intricacies of the Cal ]Mac timetable is almost encyclopaedic. Clare, the third of our Stage Management is a knitter and treasure-hunter. The knitting is invaluable – she can even knit on a moving minibus, no mean feat on some of the island roads!
As for the cast? We are well into the tour now, and most of our anecdotes have been told, and the routine of changing digs daily becomes second nature. There is always a balance to be struck with what to do at each destination whilst conserving energy for the show that night. We each have default positions I guess. Helen is another knitter, but also a jogging fanatic, and gets antsy, by her own admission, if she can’t find time for a run; this is particularly difficult to manage on board ship! Harry is content as long as he can see the horizon, and has somewhere to plug in his laptop. Barrie is a keen bird watcher and photographer, two fantastic interests for this kind of tour. He is also one of the main sources of amusement when we are delayed anywhere, with a line of banter second to none. For myself, I am never happier than when we are on the water. As someone who can get carsick driving over a sleeping policeman, boats and the motion of the waves doesn’t seem to bother me a jot. During the previous Mull Theatre tour I was heard to complain that all of the crossings were glass-smooth, and that I felt cheated in some way. With all the unfortunate delays, and bouncy crossings this time, I suppose I should be careful what I wish for, but I have enjoyed every moment, there is something magnificent about sailing into a Force 9 gale and still managing to relish the CalMac chef’s curry.
Hopefully that is it for the “weather” on this tour. Sadly most of the remaining venues are to be accessed via the minibus on the mainland, and whilst this guarantees that shows will go ahead, it is not nearly as much fun, or retains the unpredictable pleasure of the islands, and the generosity of the people on them.

Thu 6 Oct

ISLE OF TIREE
Greg Powrie Where to start? Well, we made it to Tiree at around 9pm on Tuesday night, and sort of back on schedule...for Monday. It has been howlin’ a hoolie for days now which has thrown this week into complete disarray. Barra and South Uist have joined the list of cancellations, and frankly the show last night was in danger of going the same way. Eleven hardy souls and two flying pigs turned up at An Talla, and were extremely generous in their response. In fact, the pigs are joining us for the rest of the tour. Hilly ensured the windy conditions were inside as well as out, choosing a particularly poignant moment in the proceedings to add some realism to the show with his impression of a fog-horn.
We were supposed to have left Oban far behind, with performances on Coll, Tiree, Barra, and South Uist ahead this week, but as things stand only Tiree’s show has happened, and Isle of Berneray’s show on Saturday is pretty much dependant on whether we get off tonight. It is a pity that the whole week’s schedule has been thrown out the window, but no surprise to those who live on the islands I guess. It is frustrating though, as all of us were particularly looking forward to this week of the tour.
"The earth belongs unto the Lord and all that it contains, except the Scottish Western Islands, they’re Caledonian MacBrayne's."

Pictured: A Tiree pig attacks Clare

Tue 4 Oct

ISLE OF COLL
Greg Powrie Well, this entry is easy to write. Coll didn’t happen. Mick our trusty orator and oracle had rather put a damper on the early morning rendezvous for the ferry by informing us that there was “weather” predicted for the 3 hour crossing. We put it down to his natural optimism, but I am here to report that he was correct. Two hours and 50 minutes into the crossing, and just short of Coll, our captain decided enough was enough, and we lurched around to return to Oban.
So, after five and a half hours in the company of CalMac we are back on terra firma, with the wind still howling, and some doubt about our sailing for Tiree tomorrow. Apparently our boat is stuck somewhere it shouldn’t be, and if that is the case tomorrow, our options are getting limited for the week ahead. What was it I said about a fly zooming into the ointment..?
On the plus side, the company’s sea-legs all seem to be in good shape, and there are no ill effects reported from the CalMac breakfast. Let’s see what tomorrow brings...

Pictured: Harry's "gale face" on the ferry to Coll

Mon 3 Oct

COVE & EASTWOOD PARK
Greg Powrie The long and winding road took us from Ardrishaig to Cove on Friday, not a drive for the queasy, but all of the company seem to be made of stern stuff; Clare and Helen even managed to knit for the entire trip. We arrived at the beautiful hall fairly early in the day, with the sun shining, and the prospect of a pleasant day ahead, even though there was to be a lot of hanging about. First up was a spot of stone-skimming on the loch, followed by a walk into the village for some lunch. It was post-lunch that things took a turn for the worse. Whilst enjoying the balmy temperatures of our mini Indian summer, I spotted a beautiful butterfly on a hedge, stopped to admire it and urged the others to take a look. It was at this point that a seagull decided it was time to relieve itself of its breakfast onto yours truly. Timing is everything. Barrie and Helen laughed in that supportive way of a close-knit company, and indeed Helen is still giggling some 2 days after the event. Of course there was the usual chorus of "It’s lucky!" The only luck was that there was a tiny chemist shop nearby where wet wipes could be found.
After that, the heavens opened, and we realised that whilst beautiful, there isn’t much to do in Cove on a wet Friday afternoon... It was at around 5pm in the "dressing room" that Barrie was to be heard saying, "Oh that it should come to this, sitting on a couch in a women’s toilet."
But despite the gloomy weather permeating the mood, there is nothing like an audience to perk you up. Some 50+ turned up, and really enjoyed the show. There was also the first raffle of the tour at the interval. But despite the liberal smattering of seagull c**p earlier in the day, no-one’s luck extended to the tin of Quality Street that was on offer.
The Eastwood Park Theatre in Giffnock was our last appearance in the central belt, so the turn-out at the 300-seater was a little disappointing to say the least. It was Singing Far Into The Void again. Still, as I write we are in Oban readying ourselves for the early ferry to Coll tomorrow and the first CalMac fry-up for a while; there is always cause for optimism!

Pictured: Greg gets a lucky hit!

Fri 30 Sep

ARDRISHAIG
Greg Powrie There was a very pleasant drive to Ardrishaig today, which was interrupted by a false alarm. I had already stated, as driver, that should any photo opportunities arise en route to anywhere, we should stop and take advantage. After all, there is not much point coming on such a tour and not taking the opportunities to enjoy our beautiful country. It was Barrie who had spotted something potentially interesting today, and as our resident “twitcher”, his opinions matter. The van rolled to a halt and we all piled out to observe what we thought was a pod of whales or dolphin just off the shoreline. Sadly it proved to be a moderately interesting rock.
The venue tonight was compact, but more than 50 people turned up and enjoyed possibly the best performance so far. No idea why, but it just seems to happen that way sometimes. Many thanks to the Grey Gull Inn for keeping the bar open for us, and also to you dear reader for getting this far, in spite of the fact that I may be a little worse for wear... Cove tomorrow.

Pictured: Taking a "ukulele" break in the van.

Thu 29 Sep

TARBERT & CAMPBELTOWN
Greg Powrie Back into the wild blue yonder after a brief sojourn to the central belt. Alan Cesarano, one ot the stage managers, has left us for his trip to Nepal, where I guess the scenery will be almost as spectacular as our drive through the Rest and be Thankful, we wish him well.
It is utterly impossible to predict audiences, so it was a pleasant surprise to have 40 plus turn up at Tarbert Village Hall. All was going well until the lights went off mid-show. You could be forgiven for thinking that Hilly had not put money in the meter (he does have to at some venues, Coll being one of them) but alas, it was our trusty lighting desk presenting Clare and Mick a wee mid-show challenge. Barrie dug into his capacious box of acting tricks, producing a suitable dramatic pause until such time as the lights came back, and then resumed as if nothing had happened; a good rescue all round.
Next up was Campbeltown. We were all a bit concerned by the large size of the hall, and whether anyone would show up. Barry did his best to get out of performing by stabbing his eyebrow, pre-show, which required a couple of paper stitches, but the wound was not dramatic enough to prevent the show going ahead. In the event, another healthy, and highly appreciative audience showed up, making the evening thoroughly worthwhile.
Elsewhere Helen has started knitting her Christmas presents, Harry is waiting for delivery of a new gadget in the shape of his new phone, Barrie has finally found some walking boots, and yours truly is proving hard to beat in the van game of “I Count My Cows”. Pure rock ‘n’ roll. Ardrishaig you have been warned!

Pictured: Clare and the tricksy lighting desk at Campbeltown.

Tue 27 Sep

BRUNTON & BYRE THEATRES
Greg Powrie I had to ask the cast members this morning (we are in Tarbert) if they could think of anything interesting that has happened in the last two venues. I am sorry to say that we were stumped. Helen suggested a list:
Helen – Had a haircut
Harry – Had a haircut
Barrie – Bought a couple of checked shirts from H&M
Greg – Drove the minibus
Not really much, is it? The fact is that the more interesting stuff seems to happen when we’re out playing some hall in the middle of nowhere.
It was good to be in a couple of theatres again, though. Curiously, they can end up presenting us with more challenges; you only need to ask Clare, our lighting rigger/operator. Our expensive and complicated (to me anyway) lighting desk wouldn’t work in the Brunton Theatre, and so Clare had to busk the show as best she could. Not ideal timing, as it transpired that there were a number of critics in to see the show that night, along with many cast friends/family. Turns out the lighting desk’s battery had run out... Goodness knows what the scribblers will have made of it all, but we were all slightly fraught by the end, and Clare had earned her drink!
The Byre in St Andrews is a terrific venue, although it was always going to be tough to fill, and whilst there was a reasonably healthy crowd, they were spread through the auditorium, so it did feel a little like we were Singing Far Into The Void. The lighting desk, battery replaced, behaved itself, and it was a good show to end the week. Yesterday, I clambered into the cab of the minibus, turned the key...nothing. I won’t tell you how long it took two intelligent men (one of them a technician) to work out
a) how to open the bonnet, and
b) where to locate the battery
It had run out...

Pictured: Wee Helen warming up at The Byre, with tech stage manager Mick.

Fri 23 Sep

ARROCHAR
Greg Powrie Arrochar Three Villages Hall is one of the newer venues on the tour schedule, and is still trying to build up its audience. With its stunning outlook towards The Cobbler, and great facilities, there is no doubt it will do well. The reputation of the hall as being horrifically echoey last year has been nullified by the installation of sound bafflers around the interior, work which had only just been completed before our arrival. Our esteemed leader and director (Alasdair), who attended the show with John Pope (Mull Theatre board member), can testify that the baffling has had the desired effect – he claimed he couldn’t hear us! Ear-waxing has been suggested (Al’s very old you know!).
We planned to return to Glasgow that night, so there was a lot of hanging about in the venue. Helen thought her luck was in when she spied a jogging machine and a cross-trainer in the hall’s mini-gym, however the dreaded Health & Safety rules said she wasn’t allowed to use the equipment without proper training. No amount of pleading by Helen helped, and we had to draw the line when she came up with the idea of one of us phoning up to pretend to be her personal trainer. In the end, she did her running outside and got very wet. Us lads, on the other hand, set up an IT room in our changing facility (WiFi, hurrah!) and Harry was able to do a lot of virtual running by playing World of Warcraft on his laptop. Barry and me were given a brand new costume rail to erect, by ourselves, with loose screws and everything. No sign of H&S there, and nothing fell down. Hey ho. Oh yes, the show was really good too!

Pictured: The newly baffled Three Villages Hall at Arrochar

Thu 22 Sep

ARDFERN & STRACHUR
Greg Powrie A refreshed group headed for Craignish Hall at Ardfern after 2 days off. For some it had been a chance to get home and for others a chance to sample the delights of Oban. Helen had gone above and beyond the line of duty by doing Harry’s show laundry; ok, in fairness, she just carried it to the launderette, but still... A service wash later and Harry’s vest is a wee bitty smaller than it should be, so incentive to cut down on the beers I guess! The weather has turned, and rain has been with us for the last few days making for some soggy set shifting, but also for some lovely rainbows.
A small but perfectly formed audience turned up at Craignish Hall, and again the post-show comments have all been terrific, though it would be nice to have a few more folk. On a positive note, our digs at Lunga House were lovely, and provided the best poached eggs so far!
By way of answering our wishes, a healthy crowd arrived at Strachur tonight, in atrocious weather, and provided us with a standing ovation (apart from the woman in the front who fell over – Barrie has that affect, you know!). Joining us today was newly 50-year-old Mick Andrew, a veteran of such tours, to take over from Alan, who heads off to Nepal in the near future (Barrie has that affect, too, you know). Elsewhere, Helen is fitting in the show between her daily jogs and knitting frenzies, whilst Hilly, perhaps protesting at the weight of the loaded van, decided to lose some of the weight by relieving it of a wing mirror. Now, if we could just lose those lighting stands...
Arrochar awaits.

Pictured: At Ardfern, Helen entertains the troops with a small tune on the ukulele!

Sun 18 Sep

OBAN & EASDALE
Greg Powrie It is always a bit of a bonus to play somewhere that has something other than a toilet/kitchen/hallway to change in. The CorranHhalls at Oban have actual dressing rooms (Harry had his own – what is he trying to tell us?) and a very nice studio space. The lack of height in the venue meant we used the “cut-down” version of the set again, but it is amazing how quickly we are getting used to the changes and adapting the show accordingly. Not a massive attendance, but I was stopped outside the hotel today by an unlikely looking character in shorts (no it wasn’t Hilly), to say how much he had enjoyed the show, and the challenges of the play. One of the advantages of this kind of tour is the opportunity speak to people after the show.
Any sense of smugness was dispelled by the challenge of mounting the show in Easdale Island’s hall. It is a lovely facility, but almost hexagonal in shape, and with a supporting pillar right in the middle. The set was limited to three small boatloads consisting of the gates, a couple of scenery flats, and 3 or 4 floor lights. Clare and Hilly worked wonders, and yet again provided a familiar platform for us, against the odds. The Easdale audience is well trained too, with many of them happy to crane their necks around the pillar without so much as a tut or harrumph!
We have been largely fortunate with the weather; Easdale was stunning, and the flooded slate quarries have a colour of water I have never seen anywhere else. Barrie was kept happy watching numerous buzzards playing on the thermals, and Helen’s initial disappointment about the quality of the paths preventing her going for a run, was tempered by the unlikely discovery of a jogging machine in the hall’s foyer...
All of this brings us to the end of the first week of touring. We are still talking, and the show is definitely evolving, but fear not dear reader, there is always a fly waiting to zoom into the ointment, and when it does, you will see it here first!

Pictured: Clare enjoys a break on Easdale

Fri 16 Sep

IONA & BENDERLOCH
Greg Powrie A stunning autumn day over Iona made the trip very special. Hilly, Clare and Alan faced the first challenge of creating the cut-down version of the set, and more than met it. One unforeseen result of not being able to use the “gates” properly was that upon opening them for the top of the second act, Barrie’s very posh breeks were revealed. Not so much of a problem you’d think, but for the fact that they belonged to a different character, and not the rather brusque union activist that he was portraying. Ah well, you find these things out...
Elsewhere, Barrie and Greg climbed to the summit of Dun I and were greeted with the most fantastic 360° view of the island, followed by a walk to the north beach which Barrie claimed was one of the best he’d ever seen. I can’t disagree. Helen also climbed part of a hill that she thought was called Dun 1 (one) – an easy mistake. 25 folk turned up to the performance, and feedback was very good.
A quick two-ferry hop, and we were in Oban for the performance in Benderloch. A big echoey hall made for a tricky acoustic – completely different to Iona’s hall. It is one of the many variables of this kind of tour, which does mean that the show has no chance of getting stale. This point was proved last night with yours truly having a monumental “dry” (where an actor forgets his lines) during a very intense interrogation scene. Who knows why this occurs, but it is amazing the stuff that comes out of the mouth when it does. I was heard to say,
“Things have happened...(long pause plus moody walk)...Things have happened that shouldn’t have happened.”
Hmm, never was a truer word spoken! The Corran Hall Studio in Oban awaits us tonight, followed by a discussion about what bits of the set we can take to on the tiny ferry to Easdale Island tomorrow.

Pictured: Barrie and Greg on Iona's North Beach

Wed 14 Sep

ON THE ROAD - BUNESSAN
Greg Powrie Ok, we’re finally on the road, although canoes would be more appropriate just now as the monsoon conditions continue. Our last night in Tobermory was celebrated in good style with a meal in a Chinese restaurant, notable for a couple of reasons. Firstly Barry’s remarkably bad joke:
B: "I’ll have a Tiger beer please.”
Waiter: "Sorry sir, the Tiger is finished."
B: "How about a leopard then?"
Truly awful, and it has been agreed that any rubbish jokes or situations will just be known as “leopards” from here on in! The second event was a moment of genius involving Helen and doors. We’ve all been there, you know, pushing instead of pulling etc. Well, Wee Helen took time to negotiate the first door out of the restaurant, so much so that upon her triumphant exit, she forgot about the second door and, in a Keaton-esque moment of brilliance, smacked into it, much to the delight of an unusually full room of diners. She’s fine, although she won’t be allowed to forget it for a while!
More pertinently, tonight’s show went very well. The combination of 2 days away plus a different venue was always going to be a little nerve-wracking, but thanks to Hilly, Alan and Clare, everything felt very familiar; no mean feat for the first performance on the road. Tomorrow in Iona will present our first ferry, and a different set of challenges no doubt, but with this team, and a lack of doors to negotiate on the set, we’ll be fine!

Pictured: Clare oversees Hilly's admirable stage construction in Bunessan Hall

Sun 11 Sep

THE MORNING AFTER THE NIGHT BEFORE
Greg Powrie We’re up and away with the opening night safely negotiated. The usual Herculean efforts by the technical squad enabled us to have three dress rehearsals as well as a preview night on Friday, so we were as prepared as possible; on behalf of “the turns”, thanks to you all.
Production week [when the set, sound, costumes, lights all come together for the first time] always passes in something of a blur, so forgive me if some details have been lost. The transition from rehearsals to stage is never straightforward, and the technical elements that go into a show sometimes feel like obstacles rather than enhancements:
“These whisky glasses are too clinky”
“What do you mean I turned the flat the wrong way? There’s no room back here!”
“The kit bag is taking over the scene”
“I can’t see a thing, is it really going to be that bright?”
“They’ve had to stiffen the bristles on my brush, now I can scrub properly”
Despite these seemingly insurmountable odds, at 8pm last night we were good to go, with no real notion of what the audience would make of it all. I’m delighted to say that the reaction was terrific, with tears and generous applause at the curtain call. It would seem that our compact production of Hamish MacDonald’s play is a timely hit; even Norman Quirk [Mull Theatre director] stayed awake!
So, in monsoon conditions the set has been (almost) packed into the van for the first time, and a visit to the weigh-bridge on Monday will see whether we can actually travel! It is always sad to leave Tobermory and the fabulous hospitality from all, but 31 venues await, and hurricane permitting, it is time to do what Mull Theatre does best, and take the show out there. Bring on Bunessan…

Pictured: Some of the 1st night crowd in the bijou foyer at Druimfin

Sat 3 Sep

PRODUCTION WEEK BEGINS...
Greg Powrie Three weeks of rehearsal have gone by – how did that happen? Things seem to be in pretty good shape, and this is without the bells and whistles of lighting and sound. At this stage, it is difficult to be objective because, as a cast, we are familiar with the play (apart from some superb spoonerisms from most of us!). Next week sees the pulling together of all the elements of the show, and only then will we have a true idea of what we’ve got – it may all pivot (literally) on Hilly’s consummate scene-shifting skills. If they bear any resemblance to his recent driving habits, things may be a little slow; something I thought I’d never say! I guess Fri/Sat will reveal all.
The ukulele tune de jour is I Will Survive, courtesy of Barrie, Helen’s knitted doll is nearing completion, Harry’s laptop seems to have stopped malfunctioning, and I am working my way through the Macdonald Arms cheap ‘n’ cheerful menu – haggis pie…who knew?? We were delighted to welcome Clare to the madhouse this week. So, we are at nearly full team compliment, bring on next week.

Pictured: Harry packs up his troubles in his old kit bag...

Sun 28 Aug

UKULELES & PUB QUIZES
Greg Powrie The end of week 2 culminated in something of a relief for Alasdair (director). Alan Melvin, our set builder, has been busy hammering and sawing between digestive biscuit breaks and has delivered the main design feature for the show, the “gates”. These two pieces of scenery have multiple functions, in that they are mounted on castors and can provide different settings as we move them around on stage. It is always a nerve-wracking moment to see whether a concept can survive the transition into something that is practical, but in this case it is going to work; providing we don’t have any sloping stages!
Friday was spent getting used to the idea of moving the set around. Apart from all of us humming the Super-Match-Game theme from Blankety Blank every time the scenery was turned, the flats have really helped to define the action. “Wee” Helen has proved too wee to move the gates, which at least will provide her the opportunity to get on with her knitting between scenes! So, rehearsals are progressing nicely, and this coming week should really see big progression, coinciding with a minor panic about line-learning from yours truly.
Elsewhere, the company’s joint ukulele playing is going well, although Somewhere Over The Rainbow is beginning to wear a bit thin. We also entered a team into the Mishnish Pub Quiz on Friday evening, and I can proudly say that Messrs Hunter, Ward, Melvin, Powrie & Hilly as “Wood Monkey & The Total Rides” romped home in first place. Harry knowing that the first Mr Men book was Mr Tickle may well have been the clincher!

Pictured: Harry and Helen meet their understudies

Sun 21 Aug

IT'S ALL IN THE PREPARATION...
Greg Powrie The beginning of week two, where so many of the foundations are put in place, and a sense of the style of the play begins to emerge. Allegedly. Cue Martin and his magical soundscape! After constructing a makeshift sound booth in a dressing room (crash-mats and some calico) we got to work. It’s fair to say that we are covering all possibilities and permutations with line-readings; it remains to be seen whether Helen’s superb Geordie makes it into the final cut, whilst Barrie and myself travel around the script in eighty accents.
Somewhere in the middle of all this, Helen had time to make soup, (coconut and sweet potato don’t you know!) Barrie entertained us on his ukulele, Harry did an impressive handstand, and I began to feel inadequate. Harry, as the central character, Connal, has a fair old task ahead of him, however he revealed to me this morning that he is truly prepared. On opening his rucksack he revealed packets of Ibuprofen, Zantac, Berrocca, and Immodium – all possibilities covered indeed.

Pictured: Alasdair, Barrie and Harry are rendered speechless by Helen's Geordie accent

Sun 21 Aug

HARRY, BARRIE, HELEN & ME...
Greg Powrie Just when you thought it was safe… Yes, dear reader, I’m back with more Mull Theatre travails and travels, this time with another premiere to follow Netta Fornario or "Nelly Furtado" as it has become affectionately known. Mull’s latest venture is Singing Far Into The Night by Hamish MacDonald. Assuming you have accessed this blog via the Mull website, you will probably have read the synopsis of the play. Ok, hands up those of you who have heard of the Invergordon mutinies…
I think I can speak for the 4 of us in the company when I say that we hadn’t either. Knowing a little more now, what is astounding is that this incredible story isn’t more famous. It is fair to say that often a play set in the past is chosen because it has a contemporary relevance, which justifies mounting a production, and sometimes that relevance is tenuous – not so with Singing… By the author’s admission, the timing is extraordinarily fortuitous, given recent events in England, and current government policies, making this play positively resound with the status quo. Want to know why? Well, you’ll just have to come and see! In the meantime, Harry Ward, Barrie Hunter, “Wee” Helen McAlpine and myself are busy in rehearsals with Alasdair McCrone at the helm (nautical reference, see what I did there?) Much, much, more as we go.

Pictured: Harry, Barrie & Helen at the rehearsal pick-up point - under the Tobermory Clock

Singing Far Into The Night - Mull Theatre

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