Success of Caithness Theatre Event - Transform Caithness: Hunter
Issued by The National Theatre of Scotland
CRUTH-ATHARRAICH GALLAIBH
Mac an t-Sealgair
Last week saw the culmination of two months of hard work by over 170 Thurso High School students and members of the Thurso community with three performances of a major new theatre event -Transform Caithness: Hunter.
Led by a team of professional artists from the National Theatre of Scotland and created in partnership with Highland Council, Frantic Assembly, ScottishPower and Determined to Succeed, Hunter was devised and performed by Thurso High School students, with contributions from local community members and groups. Performances of Hunter took place from 23rd to 25th June through the streets of Thurso. The event was seen by 450 people including Hollywood star, Alan Cumming, and was deemed a great success.
The story of Hunter evolved around the disappearance of a local teenage girl, Parker Bell. The mysterious thriller took audiences on a surprising and magical evening journey through the streets of Thurso. Starting at St Peter’s Episcopal Church, the 150 audience members found themselves in a town meeting where they were informed that Parker Bell was missing and that they would be split into groups and sent on a hunt for clues relating to her disappearance.
Each group followed clues in a different order which led them to seven venues around Thurso including the Mill Theatre, Thurso library, Horizons Café, the British Legion Bar, a return to St Peter’s Episcopal Church and a domestic garage under a house. In each venue, audiences witnessed a piece of performance which provided them with their next clue and led them to their next venue. There were also strange interventions around the streets of Thurso including two performers dressed in rabbit suits, music from the Caithness Handbell Ringers and movement pieces from a number of young people who initially appeared to be hanging around the streets.
Following their different journeys around Thurso, the 150 audience members were reunited in Skinandi’s nightclub (the seventh venue) for the grand finale involving line-dancing from the Kaithness Kickers, music from the band Chaos and a dramatic climax to the event involving drama, music, dancing and a shower of fireworks.
Hunter was directed by the award-winning duo of John Tiffany and Steven Hoggett (Black Watch), who were working alongside a team of professional theatre artists from Frantic Assembly and the National Theatre of Scotland including Johnny McKnight and Eddie Kay as Associate Directors, Brian Docherty as Composer and Sound Designer and Rob Drummond as Writer.
Over 100 young people from Thurso High School were involved in developing performance, movement, music and creative writing for the event. There were also significant contributions from local community groups including the Thurso Players, the Melvich Gaelic Choir, the Ormlie Youth Drama Group, the Ormlie Young Mother’s Group, the Caithness Handbell Ringers and the Kaithness Kickers.
Adrian Clark, Area Cultural Officer, Highland Council, said:
“"The main thing is how much the participants have got from the project. It said 'Transform' on the box and this is what it delivered. I am quite sure that this eight week intensive project has been a life-changing experience for those involved, in particular the young people, who really bought into it."
Ken Murphy, Depute Head of Thurso High School, said:
National Theatre of Scotland Transform Caithness – Hunter has been a success on so many levels. The number of students participating was 150 - many of them individuals who would not normally put themselves forward for the annual end of year school show.
On an educational level Hunter and the National Theatre of Scotland team delivered all four capacities of the new Curriculum for Excellence. The show was a hit because the students became Effective Contributors, were Successful Learners, showed Responsibility as member of the school and wider community and increased significantly in Confidence.
The experience was also transforming for the school staff. Watching the students develop throughout the rehearsal period was, personally and professionally, inspirational. The National Theatre of Scotland team asked for, and got, real commitment and hard work from all the participants. The result was a stunning show.
Finally, regardless of all the educational targets hit by student participation in the show, and there were many, what was so satisfying was the quality of the theatrical experience for the audience. Hunter was excellent theatre performed by actors, dancers, singers, musicians and writers – 150 of whom happened to be students at Thurso High School.
Heather McDonald, Group Sponsorship’s Manager, ScottishPower, said:
“ScottishPower through its learning company, ScottishPower Learning, is delighted to be involved with Transform. Our community programmes are focused on helping young people make the transition from school or unemployment into work and we recognise that theatre is a wonderful tool for re-engaging young people, helping improve their motivation and developing skills that are important in the world of work.”
Determined to Succeed is delighted to support Transform. Transform works by engaging, inspiring and empowering the whole community by creating memorable and innovative theatre which exposes the participants to all aspects of theatre-making and event management. Working with a team of enterprising, real-world, theatre professionals, participants demonstrate a can-do, will-do attitude, allowing them to further develop their skills for learning, life and work and deliver a successful performance.
The project was sponsored by y ScottishPower and supported by Determined to Succeed in partnership with The Highland Council with additional funding from Highland Leader, Highland Culture Fund and in association with Frantic Assembly.