In Time o’ Strife
Adapted, designed and directed by Graham McLaren,
based on the 1926 play by Joe Corrie
Featuring live music by The Shilling a Week Band
Imogen Knight - Choreographer; Vicki Manderson – Associate Choreographer; Michael John
McCarthy - Composer and Musical Director; Stevie Jones – Musical Arrangement Assistant;
Lizzie Powell - Lighting Designer; Rebecca Hamilton – Associate Designer; Iain Heggie Dramaturg; Musicians – Michael John McCarthy, Jennifer Reeve, Adam John Scott and
Jonny Scott.
Cast: Hannah Donaldson, John Kazek, Tom McGovern, Vicki Manderson, James Robinson,
Anita Vettesse, Owen Whitelaw
Touring Scotland, England and Wales - Autumn 2014
Opening at the Lochgelly Centre, Fife on 28th August 2014
Supported by ScottishPower Foundation
Following its sold-out run and passionate reception in Central Fife’s mining heartland in 2013,
Graham McLaren’s powerful reimagining of Joe Corrie’s classic 1926 drama returns to tour Scotland,
England and Wales, 30 years on from the fateful miners’ strike of 1984.
Intensely physical and loud, driven by explosive choreography and a live four piece band, the
National Theatre of Scotland’s In Time o’ Strife is a powerful reimagining of Corrie’s rarelyperformed play, conceived very much with a contemporary audience in mind. The play exposes the
lives of a Fife mining family staring hunger and defeat in the face during the General Strike of 1926.
A poignant meditation on class and power, the show garnered critical praise for its raw energy,
emotional impact and its subtle yet powerful representation of the complex human issues
surrounding the strike.
Originally produced in association with ON at Fife, the National Theatre of Scotland’s production of
In Time o’ Strife received its world premiere in Kirkcaldy, in October 2013. In addition to Corrie’s
original script, the production interweaves fragments of his other plays, poems and songs. The
Shilling a Week Band’s vigorous reinterpretations of Corrie poems had audiences stomping their
feet, and a soundtrack EP was released online to accompany the show’s run. The Shilling a Week
Band’s EP of songs from the production are available to download via iTunes, Google Play and
Amazon. Two of those tracks can be streamed free via Michael John McCarthy’s Soundcloud page:
https://soundcloud.com/mjmccarthy
With Corrie’s script having gone out of print, the National Theatre of Scotland commissioned a new
publication, including Graham McLaren’s adapted playtext, which, in an accompanying online
version, features iPhone-interactive footnotes and gives readers access to behind the scenes video
and audio content.
An online behind the scenes “workbook” was also commissioned, to chart the development of the
production. Containing video, photo and blog content, this free resource can be found at
www.intimeostrife.com
Director Graham McLaren says:
“Almost 90 years ago, Joe Corrie wrote In Time o’ Strife to raise funds for the local food banks and
soup kitchens. In 2013, we were delighted to be able to remount the show for the people of Fife, who
experienced such hardship during the last miners’ strike in 1984. This year is the 30th anniversary of
that strike and we are very excited to be taking this play about the strength of the Common Man to
audiences across Scotland.”
Ann Loughrey, Trustee and Executive Officer of the ScottishPower Foundation, says:
“The ScottishPower Foundation is delighted to be supporting this creative and heartwarming piece of
theatre, which will no doubt resonate with many people throughout Scotland.”
CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM BIOGRAPHIES
Graham McLaren – Director and Designer
Graham is a Glasgow based theatre artist who has been making theatre for almost two decades. In
that time he has created work ranging from totally improvised and devised work to classical texts.
He has made shows in London's West End, ancient Greek amphitheatres, National Theatres and
festivals across the world.
In 1994, he established the internationally acclaimed Theatre Babel, where he remained Artistic
Director until 2008. In 2005, Graham was invited to join Perth Theatre, Scotland, as Artistic and CoCreative Director; he remained with Perth Theatre until January 2008. The following year he began
creating work for the Toronto based theatre company Necessary Angel as Associate Artist.
Graham is currently an Associate Director of the National Theatre of Scotland, where his previous
shows include A Doll’s House, A Christmas Carol and Men Should Weep. In July 2014 he directed the
National Theatre of Scotland’s The Tin Forest Festival at the South Rotunda, part of the Games-time
Festival 2014.
Hannah Donaldson – Jenny (returning from 2013 cast)
Hannah’s previous work with the National Theatre of Scotland includes The Guid Sisters, and Truant.
Other recent highlights include Breaker (Sodid Svid Theatre Company), Age of Arousal (Lyceum,
Edinburgh) and Sunset Song (HMT, Aberdeen). Film and TV work includes Case Histories, Rab C.
Nesbitt, Storyville and Rebus.
John Kazek – Jock (joining the 2013 cast for first time)
John Kazek trained at The Glasgow Arts Centre and then RSAMD. Since graduating in 1988 John has
worked extensively as an actor in theatre, film, television and radio. Credits include a national and
international tour of Roadkill, directed by Cora Bissett; The Cherry Orchard at Dundee Repertory
Theatre; The Beauty Queen of Leenane at the Edinburgh Lyceum; Titanic for ITV; and Spooks for the
BBC. He is a visiting director and lecturer for The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and East 15.
Tom McGovern – Tam (returning from 2013 cast)
Tom’s recent theatre credits include: A Satire of the Three Estates (Linlithgow Palace), Macbeth
(Guildford Shakespeare Company), The Cone Gatherers (HMT, Aberdeen) and Volpone (Theatre
Babel). Film and TV work includes: Not Another Happy Ending, The Acid Test, Taggart, and Scottish
Killers.
Vicki Manderson – Kate (returning from 2013 cast) and Associate Choreographer
Vicki’s previous work for the National Theatre of Scotland includes Beautiful Burnout (with Frantic
Assembly), Knives in Hens, Home: Inverness and, as Associate Movement Director, Black Watch.
Other recent highlights include Dr Dee (ENO / MIF), Two Gentlemen of Verona (Royal & Derngate,
Northampton) and One Up One Down (Barrowland Ballet). As Movement Director, Vicki’s credits
include The Drowning Pond (YMT) and The Silence of the Sea (Donmar) and, as Movement Associate,
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time (National Theatre, West End).
James Robinson – Bob (joining the 2013 cast for first time)
James’s recent theatre credits include Brassed Off (York Theatre Royal and National Tour); I Didn’t
Always Live Here (Finborough Theatre); A Man’s Man (Gaiety Theatre); King John (Union Theatre);
They Came To The City (Southwark Playhouse); Trilby (Finborough Theatre); Knives in Hens and
Festen (Battersea Arts Centre). Film and TV work includes The Wee Man, The Walk, Ashes,
Braveheart, Doctors, Casualty and Babylon.
Anita Vettesse – Jean (returning from 2013 cast)
Anita’s previous work with the National Theatre of Scotland includes The Wolves in the Walls, The
Elgin Macbeth and Men Should Weep. Other theatre credits include Fleeto and Wee Andy (Tumult in
the Clouds). Film and TV work includes Fields of Blood, River City, Waterloo Road and The Bill.
Owen Whitelaw – Wull Baxter (returning from 2013 cast)
Owen has worked previously with the National Theatre of Scotland on Knives in Hens, Peter Pan, Our
Teacher’s a Troll, Cockroach, 365 and Rupture. Other recent theatre highlights include The Life of
Stuff (Theatre 503), Wonderland (Vanishing Point), King Lear (Citizens, Glasgow) and Romeo and
Juliet (Òran Mór, Glasgow). Film credits include Dying Light, Score, 7/11 in Repeat and What Would
Ridley Do?.
THE SHILLING A WEEK BAND
Michael John McCarthy - Composer, Musical Director and Musician.
His previous work with the National Theatre of Scotland includes The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two
Goldfish, Reasons To Dance, Truant, 99...100, Dolls and Transform Dumfries. Recent work includes
The Drowning Pond (Youth Music Theatre UK), Some Other Mother (AJ Taudevin), Dalgety (Theatre
Uncut), Un Petit Molière (Lung Ha's), The Winter's Tale (People's Light, Philadelphia) and Educating
Ronnie (Macrobert, Stirling). He has also worked with Grid Iron, Dundee Rep, Vox Motus, Platform
and Playgroup. He has recorded and toured internationally as a member of the bands Zoey Van Goey
and Lord Cut-Glass.
Jennifer Reeve – Violin/Vocals
Jenny is a songwriter, vocalist, guitarist and violinist. She currently plays with Glasgow-based
band Strike The Colours and duo Bdy_Prts with Jill O’Sullivan from Sparrow in the Workshop.
She also performs with Malcolm Middleton. She has previously performed with bands such as
Arab Strap and Snow Patrol.
Adam John Scott – Bass
Adam trained at Leeds College of Music and the University of Glasgow. A diverse musician, his recent
work has been with Renée Baker, Radu Malfatti, Michael Pisaro, Jo Mango, Catherine Ireton, Annie
Grace and Zoey Van Goey. Recent theatre work includes The Bookie (Cumbernauld Theatre).
Jonny Scott – Drums/Piano
Jonny is a Glasgow-based drummer and musician. He is a session player both live and in the studio
for The Kills, Chvrches and The Unwinding Hours. He is also a member of Glasgow bands Strike The
Colours and Olympic Swimmers.
Stevie Jones - Sound Supervisor/Musical Arrangement Assistant
Stevie’s previous work as a sound supervisor for the National Theatre of Scotland includes Tutti
Frutti, Venus as a Boy, Long Gone Lonesome, The Missing and Peter Pan.
His sound design credits include The Hairy Ape, medEia (Corcadorca), Birds and Other Things I’m
Afraid Of (Poor Boy), Iqbal (Sokobauno Puppet and Object Theatre Company) and The Devil’s Larder
(Grid Iron). As a musician, Stevie has been a member of Arab Strap, The Isobel Campbell/Mark
Lanegan Band and Alasdair Roberts and Friends among many others. He has recorded and toured
extensively around North America, Japan, Russia, Scandinavia and Europe. As a sound engineer he
has worked with Patti Smith, Gavin Bryars, Trembling Bells, Will Oldham and Django Django.
IN TIME O’ STRIFE TOUR LISTINGS
Lochgelly Centre, Bank St, Lochgelly, Fife KY5 9RD
Wed 27 Aug (preview), 7.30pm
Thu 28 Aug, 2.30pm + 7.30pm
Fri 29 Aug, 7.30pm
Sat 30 Aug, 2.30pm + 7.30pm
Box office: 01592 583303 / www.onfife.com
Traverse Theatre, 10 Cambridge St, Edinburgh EH1 2ED
Tue 9 Sep, 7.30pm
Wed 10 Sep, 2.30pm + 7.30pm
Thu 11 Sep, 7.30pm
Fri 12 Sep, 7.30pm
Sat 13 Sep, 2.30pm + 7.30pm
Box office: 0131 228 1404 / http://www.traverse.co.uk/
Ryan Centre, Fairhurst Rd, Stranraer, Dumfries & Galloway DG9 7AP
Tue 16 Sep, 7.30pm
Wed 17 Sep, 2pm + 7.30pm
Box office: 01776 703535 / www.dumgal.gov.uk/ryancentre
Gaiety Theatre, Carrick St, Ayr, South Ayrshire KA7 1NU
Fri 19 Sep, 7.30pm
Sat 20 Sep, 7.30pm
Box office: 01292 288235 / www.ayrgaiety.co.uk
Beach Ballroom, Aberdeen Beach Promenade, Aberdeen, AB24 5NR
Tue 23 Sep, 7.30pm
Wed 24 Sep, 2.30pm + 7.30pm
Thu 25 Sep, 7.30pm
Box office: 01224 641122 / www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/
Oxford Playhouse, 11-12 Beaumont St, Oxford OX1 2LW
Tue 30 Sep, 7.30pm
Wed 1 Oct, 7.30pm
Thu 2 Oct, 2.30pm + 7.30pm
Fri 3 Oct, 8pm
Sat 4 Oct, 2.30pm + 7.30pm
Box office: 01865 305305 / www.oxfordplayhouse.com
Dundee Rep, Tay Square, Dundee DD1 1PB
Tue 7 Oct, 7.30pm
Wed 8 Oct, 7.30pm
Thu 9 Oct, 2.30pm + 7.30pm
Fri 10 Oct, 7.30pm
Box office: 01382 223530 / www.dundeerep.co.uk
Citizens Theatre, 119 Gorbals St, Glasgow G5 9DS
Tue 14 Oct, 7.30pm
Wed 15 Oct, 2.30pm + 7.30pm
Thu 16 Oct, 7.30pm
Fri 17 Oct, 7.30pm
Sat 18 Oct, 2.30pm + 7.30pm
Box office: 0141 429 0022 / www.citz.co.uk
Sherman Theatre, Senghennydd Rd, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4YE
Thu 23 Oct, 7.30pm
Fri 24 Oct, 7.30pm
Sat 25 Oct, 2.30pm + 7.30pm
Box office: 029 2064 6900 / www.shermancymru.co.uk
Running Time: 90 minutes (without interval)
Accessible Performances: TBC – check with local venue box office for details
Age guideline: suggested 12+
RESOURCES
Schools interested in buying copies of the playtext in advance should contact:
pamela.walker@nationaltheatrescotland.com
Press contacts:
Adam McDougall, Press and Marketing Officer at National Theatre of Scotland
Tel: +44 (0)141 227 9231 / +44 (0)7738 153157
E: adam.mcdougall@nationaltheatrescotland.com
Jo Lennie, Publicist
Tel: +44 (0)7708 980918
E: jo.lennie@ntlworld.com
Emma Schad, Press Manager at National Theatre of Scotland
Tel: +44 (0)141 227 9016 / +44 (0)7930 308018
E: emma.schad@nationaltheatrescotland.com
Further information at:
www.intimeostrife.com
www.nationaltheatrescotland.com
www.facebook.com/NationalTheatreScotland
www.twitter.com @NTSonline #TimeOStrife
You can follow the National Theatre of Scotland’s press office on Twitter @NTS_press
Press images available for download from www.nationaltheatrescotland.com/press
Please contact the press office for a password.
Notes to editors:


The National Theatre of Scotland is supported by the Scottish Government. Since its launch
in February 2006, the National Theatre of Scotland has been involved in creating over 200
productions in 186 different locations. With no building of its own, the Company takes
theatre all over Scotland and beyond, working with existing and new venues and companies
to create and tour theatre of the highest quality. It takes place in the great buildings of
Scotland, but also in site-specific locations, airports and tower blocks, community halls and
drill halls, ferries and forests. The Company has performed to over 1,056,000 people across
four continents. www.nationaltheatrescotland.com.
ScottishPower has a strong track record of supporting good causes and in May 2013 the
ScottishPower Foundation was launched. The Foundation which was established to
reinforce the company's commitment to charitable work throughout Britain aims to make a
significant and lasting contribution to society and enhance the quality of life in local
communities. The new Foundation, which is a registered charity, will provide funds to
support Charitable Organisations or Not for Profit Organisations delivering initiatives that
promote the advancement of education, environmental protection, citizenship and
community development, arts, culture and science as well as the prevention of poverty or
disadvantage.