the play o’ the wather
Written by John Heywood
Translated by Edwin Stiven
Directed by Kate Nelson
The Underbelly, Edinburgh Fringe | 2002
Traverse (Edinburgh), Tron (Glasgow) | 2003
The great God Jupiter is fed up with everyone moaning about the weather, so he hires Merry Courant, a ‘Master of the Revels’, to find out what the people want.
On comes a cross-section of the public to have their say, each prepared to use bribery, seduction and even fancy biscuits to get their own way.
A mix of fast funny Scots dialogue, original music and songs, the play has a bawdy energetic charm which went down a storm with audiences of all ages.
Background
Nutshell Director Kate Nelson was a drama student when she first read this morality play written by John Heywood in the early 1500s. She was keen to put it into Scots, and engaged Inverness-shire writer Eddie Stiven who made an exceptional translation of the piece.
After a successful world premiere at Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2002, the show was revived the following year for a short Scottish tour featuring six of the original cast members.
Cast & Crew
Jupiter - Douglas Russell (2002)
John Austin (2003)
Merry Courant - Stephen Docherty (2002)
Harry Ward (2003)
The Merchant - Victoria Balnaves
The Wather Girl, The Dame - Eileen Buresh
The Boy - Colin Ferrie
The Laird, The Launder - Mary Gapinksi
The Keeper, The Wind Miller - Lynne McCallum
The Water Miller - Caroline McKellar
Designer – Lucinda Meredith
Production Manager – Rebecca Whiteman
Lighting Design – Simon Wilkinson & Neil Hobbs
Costume Designer – Lisa Cochrane
Music – Fiona Young & Lori Watson
What the Press Said
“…tremendous…a thoroughly enjoyable theatrical curiosity.”
“A ribald and raucously fun play, with more than a hint of modern relevance, performed with infectious, unbridled joy.”
“…so exuberant and so clever in its use of folk music, fizzy movement and rough design… exhilarating to watch.”
“Kate Nelson has …created a voluble, excited and exciting production.”
THE STAGE
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