PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WORLD PREMIERE
The National Theatre of Scotland, 14-18 NOW and Perth Theatre,
In association with Red Note Ensemble, present
The 306: Dawn
Written by Oliver Emanuel and composed by Gareth Williams; directed by Laurie Sansom; costume
and set designed by Becky Minto; lighting Design by Simon Wilkinson; musical direction by
Jonathan Gill.
Dalcrue Farm barn in the Perthshire countryside from 24 May to 11 June 2016
The 306: Dawn is a new piece of music theatre directed by National Theatre of Scotland’s Artistic
Director, Laurie Sansom, written by Oliver Emanuel and composed by Gareth Williams.
Based on real events, it charts the heart-breaking journey of three of the 306 British soldiers who
were executed for cowardice and desertion during World War I (1914-18). The work is a cocommission with 14-18 NOW, the UK’s First World War centenary cultural programme.
The 306; Dawn is Part I of a trilogy of new plays, with live music, commemorating the First World
War, to be presented in 2016, 2017 and 2018. These plays will explore personal stories of the 306,
as well as looking at how the war affected women, families and communities on the home front.
The first part of the trilogy is set in France, around time of the Battle of the Somme and will mark the
100th anniversary of this Battle.
Joseph Byers (17) from Glasgow. Too young to enlist, Joe, like so many at the time, has lied about his
age to join the other men at the Front. However, his dreams of being a solider are quickly destroyed
by the brutal realities of trench warfare and he soon finds himself in trouble with the authorities.
Private Harry Farr (25) from London. Traumatised by the things he has seen and lived through as a
serving soldier, Harry is suffering from shell-shock and is now unable to fight. He has subsequently
been convicted of cowardice and, as he waits to hear his fate, he dreams of his wife and hopes for a
last minute reprieve.
Lance-Sergeant Joseph Willie Stones (24) from Durham. Having used his rifle to block the entrance to
a trench during fierce fighting, Joseph stands accused of casting away his arms in combat - an
offence punishable by death. He thought he was protecting his men, but the top brass want to make
an example of him to maintain discipline in the ranks.
With a contemporary score performed live by the Red Note Ensemble, the songs explore the
vulnerability and devastation of the battlefields, alongside the inner struggles of the men. Composer
Gareth Williams is a long-term collaborator with both Red Note and Oliver Emanuel; the pair
previously worked on The End of the World (for One Night Only) which Red Note commissioned,
developed and staged in Edinburgh in December 2012.
Poignant and powerful, The 306: Dawn will be performed in a transformed barn in the Perthshire
countryside, exploring the lives of these unknown soldiers - who appear on no war memorials, to
give them back their voices, stories and names.
The 306: Dawn will open with a special dawn performance.
The production is being presented in Perthshire during the Perth Festival of the Arts.
The 306 is written by the celebrated Scottish-based writer Oliver Emanuel whose work for the
National Theatre of Scotland includes Dragon (winner, Best Production for Families, UK Theatre
Awards 2014) and The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish, based on Neil Gaiman’s book of the
same name. The music for The 306 is composed by Gareth Williams, whose work has featured in the
Edinburgh Fringe Festival, St. Magnus Festival, Sound Festival, 5:15, Tête à Tête Opera Festival,
Sonorities, Opera to Go, and the York Late Music Festival. Laurie Sansom directs, whose awardwining The James Plays trilogy also tours throughout the UK in 2016.
Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, says:
“This is a fantastic project highlighting one of the less acknowledged aspects of the First World War,
and I’m pleased the very best of our creative talent will be helping to illuminate Scotland’s
commemorations. The 306: Dawn is just one of many projects taking place across the country to
encourage the people of Scotland to reflect on the significant impact the First World War had on our
nation and its lasting effects on life today.”
Oliver Emanuel, writer of The 306:Dawn says
“In 2012, Gareth Williams and I were looking at all the planned memorials for the First World War. It
felt like all the stories were about bravery and sacrifice and heroism. And whilst these were powerful
testimonies, it seemed as if there was something missing. What about those who failed to live up to
this ideal? When we found out about the 306 men shot for cowardice and desertion– and the story
of their families and the hundred year campaign for their pardon – it was an instant connection. This
story challenges what we think about the war and how we memorialise the dead”
Gwilym Gibbons, chief executive of Horsecross Arts, the creative organisation behind Perth Concert
Hall and Perth Theatre says
“We are delighted to partner the National Theatre of Scotland for this, the first in what will surely
become a series of iconic plays. While Perth Theatre undergoes restoration and redevelopment we
are committed to taking theatre out and about to different venues across the community. The 306
fits perfectly with this approach, taking place as it does in a barn in the heart of the Perthshire
countryside. The setting will serve to illustrate and enhance this poignant story and we look forward
to welcoming audiences from across Scotland to witness what will truly be a unique piece of
theatre.”
Venue: Dalcrue Farm, Pitcairngreen, Perth
Dates: 24 to 26 May (previews) 27 May (school performance) and 28 May to 11 June 2016
Travel: Audiences will be transported from Perth Concert Hall to the farm.
Age guide: 14+
Opening Performance on Sat 28 May at Dalcrue Farm, Pitcairngreen, Perth at 2.15am (dawn).
On sale info: Tickets are available from Perth Theatre Box Office - 01738 621031. Full ticket
information is available from nationaltheatrescotland.com. Please note that all tickets need to be
purchased in advance, and are not available to buy from the farm.
__________________________________________________________________________________
ARTISTS BIOGS
Oliver Emanuel – writer of The 306: Dawn
An internationally award-winning playwright based in Glasgow. His work has been seen across the
UK, Ireland, Europe, Canada, USA and China. His play Dragon won Best Show for Children and Young
People at the UK Theatre Awards 2014. It was also the first play for children ever to be presented at
the Edinburgh International Festival, in 2015. Titus won the People’s Choice Victor Award at IPAY in
Philadelphia 2015. As well as theatre, Oliver writes extensively for radio and has been writer in
residence for BBC Radio 4 and Children in Need in 2011. His play Daniel & Mary was nominated for a
Sony Radio Academy Award for Best Drama in 2010, and he is a leading writer on Emile Zola: Blood,
Sex & Money starring Glenda Jackson for BBC Radio 4 to be broadcast in 2015-16. Oliver is a parttime Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of St Andrews.
Laurie Sansom - Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the National Theatre of Scotland, director of
The 306: Dawn and The James Plays.
Previously, he was Artistic Director of the Royal & Derngate Theatre, Northampton, from 2006 and
Associate Director to Alan Ayckbourn at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough from 2002 to
2006. His productions for the National Theatre of Scotland include The Driver’s Seat (The Lyceum,
Edinburgh) and The James Plays (Edinburgh International Festival and National Theatre of Great
Britain)
Productions at the Royal & Derngate include The Bacchae, Blood Wedding and Hedda Gabler, which
were presented as The Festival of Chaos, as part of London 2012 Festival. Other recent productions
include Spring Storm and Beyond the Horizon which transferred to the National Theatre, London,
and for which he received the 2010 TMA Award for Best Director, Frankenstein (with Frantic
Assembly), The Duchess of Malfi and Follies. In 2009, the Royal & Derngate’s production of The Prime
of Miss Jean Brodie was presented at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, winning Anna Francolini the TMA
Award for Best Performance in a Play. He has directed for theatres around the UK including the
Traverse, Birmingham Rep, Salisbury Playhouse, Lyric Hammersmith, New Vic, Stoke, West Yorkshire
Playhouse and the National Theatre, London, where he recently directed The Holy Rosenbergs.
Gareth Williams –Composer on The 306: Dawn
Originally from Armagh, Gareth now lives and works as a composer in Glasgow. His work has been
featured in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, St. Magnus Festival, Sound Festival, 5:15, Tete a Tete
Opera Festival, Sonorities, Opera to Go, and the York Late Music Festival. Prizes include the Dinah
Wolf Prize for Composition, and his piece Search Engines was winner of the 2000 Great British
Conservatoire Composers Forum.
His music has been broadcast on BBC Scotland, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Ulster, RTE
Television, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, and CBC Radio 2 in Canada. Currently, Gareth is Composer in
Residence at Scottish Opera, where he has created two full length chamber operas - The Elephant
Angel, with novelist Bernard MacLaverty, and Last One Out, with writer Johnny McKnight. He is
currently creating a new piece for the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, a new work for soprano
and The Orchestra of Scottish Opera, and a new opera, with libretto by Canadian writer Anna
Chatterton, based on D.H.Lawrence’s ‘The Rocking Horse Winner”.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About 14 -18 NOW. A programme of special commissions by leading artists from Britain and around
the world to mark the centenary of the First World War as part of the UK’s official centenary
commemorations. The first season centred around 4 August 2014 (Anniversary of the Declaration of
War), and the focus of the subsequent two seasons will be July 2016 (anniversary of the Battle of
Somme) and November 2018 (centenary of Armistice Day). 14 -18 NOW is supported by the National
Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England and by additional fundraising.
14-18 NOW made 31 commissions in 2014 resulting in 78 artworks across the UK, with over 19
million people experiencing a commission. LIGHTS OUT marked the centenary of the outbreak of the
First World War on 4 August and saw 16.7 million participate. 14-18 NOW aims to reach at least 25
million people over the course of the centenary.
The National Theatre of Scotland is dedicated to playing the great stages, arts centres, village halls,
schools and site-specific locations of Scotland, the UK and internationally. As well as creating
ground-breaking productions and working with the most talented theatre-makers, the National
Theatre of Scotland produces significant community engagement projects, innovates digitally and
works constantly to develop new talent. Central to this is finding pioneering ways to reach current
and new audiences and to encourage people’s full participation in the Company’s work. With no
performance building of its own, the Company works with existing and new venues and companies
to create and tour theatre of the highest quality. Founded in 2006, the Company, in its short life, has
become a globally significant theatrical player, with an extensive repertoire of award-winning work.
The National Theatre of Scotland is supported by the Scottish Government.
www.nationaltheatrescotland.com
Perth Theatre has a long history of artistic innovation and excellence having been at the heart of
cultural life in Perth for over a century. Horsecross Arts and project partners Perth & Kinross Council
are now undertaking a £16.6m transformation of Perth’s much-loved theatre. This will see the B
listed Edwardian auditorium restored to its former glory, the creation of a new 200 seat studio
theatre, increased workshop spaces for creative learning and community projects and improved
access and audience facilities. Scheduled to reopen in 2017, the transformation will restore and
redevelop Perth Theatre for generations to come.
While the building is closed, Perth Theatre has been going Out and About! We have taken theatre to
audiences across the area in pubs, hotels, village halls, community centres, and now … barns!
http://www.horsecross.co.uk/transform-perth-theatre
Red Note Ensemble is Scotland’s contemporary music ensemble, dedicated to developing and
performing contemporary music to the highest standards, and taking new music out to
audiences around and beyond Scotland. It is the Associate Contemporary Ensemble at the Royal
Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, and an Associate Company of the Traverse Theatre,
Edinburgh. Red Note was founded in 2008 by Scottish cellist Robert Irvine, and is directed by John
Harris (Chief Executive and Artistic Co-Director) and Robert Irvine (Artistic Co-Director).
The ensemble is led by violinist Jacqueline Shave. Red Note performs the established classics of
contemporary music; commissions new music; develops the work of new and emerging composers
from around the world; and finds new spaces and new ways of performing contemporary music to
attract new audiences. Red Note’s work in 2016 includes a Reels to Ragas tour of the Highlands and
Islands with Indian tabla player Kuljit Bhamra, The 306: Dawn with the National Theatre of Scotland,
a new string quartet for invented instruments by Francois Sarhan, and a large-scale co-production
and tour of Europe with Antwerp-based wind ensemble I Solisti.
ENDS