After an unbelievable offered out and award-winning run on the Edinburgh Pageant Fringe 2024, Surprise Fools are delighted to current their model new present The Kelton Hill Truthful. This new thrilling manufacturing will likely be opening at Theatre Royal Dumfries on 21 & 22 March earlier than travelling to the Tron Theatre, Glasgow 25-29 March.
Written by Robbie Gordon and Dumfries & Galloway’s Jack Nurse, The Kelton Hill Truthful tells the gripping story of Flora, a defiant and desperately alone care skilled teenager from Citadel Douglas. As a mighty storm gathers, Flora runs away and stumbles upon a mysterious honest run by the legendary Billy Marshall ‘The King of the Travellers’. The Kelton Hill Truthful, is a spot the place time stands nonetheless, particularly as Billy was presupposed to have died in 1792 and is buried close by in Kirkcudbright. But right here he’s on the honest in 2025 and accompanied by different well-known Scottish faces related to Dumfries & Galloway together with none apart from Robert Burns, William Hare (of Burke and Hare fame) and Girl Florence Dixie. However that’s inconceivable. Isn’t it?
Rooted in Dumfries & Galloway and co-created with 5 native younger folks, this unmissable new manufacturing brings fascinating storytelling, music and tune and explores themes round group, fable, legacy and morality while telling the extraordinary story of Billy Marshall who, throughout his 120 yr life, participated in a few of the most important historic occasions that formed trendy Scotland. As the corporate’s first new mid-scale manufacturing since 549: Scots of the Spanish Civil Battle, and that includes Surprise Fools’ signature theatrical fashion focussing on storytelling, motion and music, The Kelton Hill Truthful presents an interesting exploration of latest Scotland, as seen via the eyes of the nation’s folklore and legends. Constructing on their momentous and prolific 2024 and up to date Multi 12 months funding announcement, this bold manufacturing marks an thrilling new chapter for Surprise Fools theatre firm.
The Kelton Hill Truthful will likely be carried out by an solid of six together with Pericles Snowdon who’s taking part in the primary character of Billy Marshall. Girl Dixie is performed by the fantastic Julie Wilson Nimmo and Martin Donaghy performs the function of the Bard,
Robert Burns. Michael Dylan takes on the character of William Hare and Laura Lovemore is taking part in Lizzy. The function of the troubled teenager Flora is performed by latest RCS graduate and Surprise Fools Youth Board alumni Ava Hickey.
The historical past of Surprise Fools’ The Kelton Hill Truthful began again in 2021 once they delivered theatre expertise workshops to colleges throughout Dumfries & Galloway and recruited 5 younger folks for paid apprenticeships to work on their present And Then Come The Nightjars. These younger folks – Charlie McAdam Dorans, Emma Forsyth, Holly Marie Chapman, Sara Thomson, Eilidh Thomson – have been then given the chance to analysis and develop a neighborhood story for a brand new Surprise Fools present in addition to growing their theatre-making expertise with bespoke help from the corporate. Over the previous three years, throughout a number of residencies, the younger folks have been central in growing this seed of an thought into this new full-length play – The Kelton Hill Truthful.
Once more, for this present, Surprise Fools will likely be providing apprenticeships to 5 younger folks from Dumfries & Galloway to work on the present.
Jack Nurse and Robbie Gordon say of the manufacturing “We’re completely thrilled to carry our new manufacturing to audiences this spring. It’s been a pleasure to work so intently with the Younger Collaborators in Dumfries & Galloway to create a brand new present that has such deep roots within the area while additionally holding a wider attraction via its common themes and daring theatricality. We hope and really feel that that is probably the most bold Surprise Fools manufacturing but – now we have an unbelievably proficient solid and artistic crew bringing this timeless story to life, and we are able to’t wait to see folks’s reactions within the viewers.”
Emma Forsyth, one of many younger collaborators says of her expertise “To see an concept that was batted round Dalbeattie city corridor be one thing that’s going to seem as a complete world onstage is unreal. The prospect to work as an apprentice stage supervisor within the city subsequent to the place I grew up years in the past was extraordinary, and actually motivating for me as an artist to see issues may be completed down right here. I wouldn’t have thought I’d then be concerned from the beginning in creating theatre about my area. Being included in all of the levels has been actually particular and has formed and constantly motivated my work so as to add to the wealthy arts tradition in Dumfries and Galloway. It’s simply all fairly wonderful”
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Theatre Royal Dumfries
Dates: 21-22 March, 7:30pm
Tickets: £12 (£10)
Reserving: theatreroyaldumfries.co.uk
Trion Theatre, Glasgow
Dates: 25-29 March, 7.30pm; Sat 29 March 2.30pm
Tickets: Preview £14.50; £18/ £21/ £25
Reserving: tron.co.uk
Age: 14+ (Countains Robust Language)
Operating time: 90mins no interval
Writers: Robbie Gordon & Jack Nurse; Director: Jack Nurse; Composer & Sound Design: VanIves; Lighting Design: Benny Goodman; Set & Costume Design: Jenny Sales space; Dramaturg: Alessandra Davison
