Following a successful bid for the Shetland Arts Refresh Now project, we were again able to present another play, this time in association with Shetland Arts.
Again working alongside Lesley Leslie, Jennie came up with an idea of a theme around the Gutter Girls in the 1900s many of whom were a long way from home. Lesley worked with the theme and the play tells the story of the growing friendship between Chrissy (a gutter girl from Shetland) and Emily (a high born lady from Yarmouth). The play starts with the gutting season in Yarmouth and then moves to Shetland.
Morag Maver was drafted in to undertake the research of the period to ensure the details were correct and we are indebted to Shetland Library for their help in searching out books for us during the difficulties of the Virus and when the Library was shut.
The accompanying music was researched and played by Amber Thomson, a young member of our Group, but extremely talented.
The vintage photographs of Shetland were provided by kind permission of the Shetland Archives, however, it proved difficult to source vintage photographs of Yarmouth. However, Jennie was able to source some modern stock photographs which related to the Yarmouth script and we were very grateful to Stuart Hubbard (Islesburgh Photographic Club) who edited them to ensure a more vintage look.
The right sound effects were crucial and were sourced by Karen Erasmuson on BBC Sound Effects. Jennie also recorded crowd chatter, laughter, cheering using the cast to back up the script, just as it would sound if we were on the stage.
The play was broadcast by Shetland Arts on 23rd April and it is possible to watch using the link here until the 31st May. After that we hope to have the broadcast uploaded to our YouTube channel.
Catch our Behind the Scenes post for details of how the play came together!
A Life of Wir Choosin
Written by Lesley Leslie
Directed and Produced by Jennie Atkinson
Cast:
Emily : Stephenie Pagulayan
Chrissy : Morag Mouat
Lizzie : Mandy Phillips
Betty : Zoe Galbraith
Esme : Joyce Williamson
Leely : Amber Thomson
Jasper : Fraser Wood
Willie : David Smith
Paul : Martin Summers
Martin : Karl Ward
Constable : Stanley Manson