ANGUS MCPHEE - Weaver of Grass


ANGUS MCPHEE or MACPHEE was a crofter from Uist who spent almost 50 years in a Highland psychiatric hospital. During this time he chose not to speak - instead he wove a series of incredible costumes out of grass. These he hung on trees in the hospital grounds.

This blog follows the progress of HORSE + BAMBOO THEATRE as they develop and tour a show about Angus....

Friday 16 March 2012

Angus advances on all fronts


Work on tour planning is ahead moving fast. Esther is close to finalising the details, as the red dots on our office planner above show - these are the venues we're going to this summer with 'Angus - Weaver of Grass', the  title of the show. See details at the bottom of the page.

On Monday Joanne B Kaar is arriving at our workshop from Caithness (via Pittenweem and Manchester) with her additions to our fabulous collection of woven grass items. Mark Whitaker will be working that day too, as will Jonny Quick, and we'll be sorting out a 'signature' image with which to promote the show. We have to do this as the deadline for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme is Wednesday. It means setting up some photographs in the unfinished set, and perhaps combining masks (below) with projected images. 


Among all the rejoicing is some sadness. The delightful red calf, who Joanne made for the 'Rashin Coatie' story section has been cut from the script - as has the whole story. Why? Because 'Rashin Coatie' (a kind of Scottish 'Cinderella', a Scots story rather than a Gaelic one) is not a story that would have been told in Eochar. This decision was made after discussions with Linda Macleod from Clachan in North Uist, and Mary MacInnes, the headteacher of Eochar School. So in the interest of authenticity we're replacing it with a traditional story that has been retold by the great storyteller from South Uist, Angus MacLellan


So the Red Calf, who sits above my desk, is feeling rather sad. We're desperately trying to create a cameo walk-on part for her. Alison can be seen laughing at the plight of the poor calf. 

*
FULL SCOTTISH TOUR DETAILS for 'Angus - Weaver of Grass' (times and contact details will come later)
11th July Tiree Feis
14th July CEOLAS, South Uist
17th July Mull Theatre
19th July The MacPhail Centre, Ullapool
20th July Rosehall Village Hall, Sutherland
21st July Resolis Arts, Cromarty
24th July TBC
26th July An Lanntair, Stornoway
28th July AROS, Skye
31st July SEALL, Sabhal Mor Ostaig, Skye
2nd Aug Eigg Community Hall
4th Aug Universal Hall, Findhorn
5th Aug Pittenweem Arts Festival
16th – 26th Aug The Scottish Storytelling Centre – Edinburgh Fringe Festival
10th Sept Lyth Arts Centre, Caithness
13th Sept Dornie Hall
14th Sept Craignish Village Hall, Ardfern
15th Sept Ceol’s Craic, CCA Glasgow

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