MEDIA RELEASE
FULL CAST CONFIRMED
FOR THE TIN FOREST FESTIVAL PROGRAMME
Performers to include Morven Christie, Gary Lewis, Paul
Riley, Barbara Rafferty, Emma Pollock, Arthur Johnstone
and Kieran Hurley
Part of the Festival 2014 Programme
Produced in association with Scottish Youth Theatre and supported by Glasgow Life,
Creative Scotland, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Homecoming Scotland 2014 and
Arts & Business Scotland
The full line-up of artists has been confirmed for The Tin Forest Festival, the National
Theatre of Scotland’s Games-time programme of theatre, music, visual art and ideas,
taking place in and around the iconic South Rotunda on Glasgow’s Clydeside. The South
Rotunda programme represents the culmination of an eight-month international project
inspired by the bestselling story by Helen Ward and Wayne Anderson.
Morven Christie (Twenty Twelve, The Young Victoria), Gary Lewis (Billy Elliot, Gangs of
New York), Paul Riley (Still Game, An Appointment With the Wicker Man) and Barbara
Rafferty (Rab C Nesbitt, The Last King of Scotland) will appear in The Tin Forest Festival
Opening Event, a live stage concert in the South Rotunda courtyard on Tuesday 22 July,
featuring songs, speeches, poems and jokes inspired by and in celebration of Glasgow.
The ensemble will bring to life the words of Jimmy Reid, Alasdair Gray and Billy
Connolly, amongst others, as well as extracts culled from Scottish newspapers and
journals from the 1850s to the present day. In keeping with the overarching themes of
The Tin Forest project, the spoken word performances will present a mosaic social
history of the city from the industrial revolution, through decline, to the 21 st century.
The featured songs, stories and speeches follow the story of Glasgow, describing its
ascent to Second City status, its struggles with housing, employment and immigration
issues, its great sporting events, tall tales and everyday happenings. Created by Graham
McLaren, Peter Arnott and Michael John McCarthy, the 90 minute programme will
include songs written by Hamish Henderson, Matt McGuinn, Michael Marra and Paul
Buchanan. Singer-songwriter Emma Pollock and Scottish folk music legend Arthur
Johnstone will appear as guest vocalists alongside a seven-piece house band, which
includes cast members from recent National Theatre of Scotland productions In Time o’
Strife, The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart and Rantin’. The event will also feature
contributions from participants who took part in The Tin Forest Glasgow community
projects, young performers from across the Commonwealth taking part in the
International Theatre Festival and International Performing Company, and participants
from the Big Big Sing.
At the heart of the festival programme is The Tin Forest Show, in which the story from
the original book is adapted as an immersive puppet theatre journey - for groups of ten
audience members at a time - through a labyrinth of rooms and landscapes inside the
South Rotunda. Director Graham McLaren will collaborate once again with puppetmaker and coach Gavin Glover – the two last worked together on the National Theatre
of Scotland’s award-winning production of A Christmas Carol. The Glasgow School of
Art’s pioneering Digital Design Studio have used 3D digital mapping technology to map
the inside of the South Rotunda building, in preparation for the show’s video design.
The Tin Forest Show performing company includes Darren Brownlie, Stephen Clyde,
Pete Collins, Angela Darcy, John Kazek and Harry Ward, in addition to aerial artists from
acclaimed Scottish company All Or Nothing, and a live band comprising musicians from
the festival’s opening event. The Tin Forest Show will play daily from 2.00 – 6.00pm
(performances every ten minutes) from Thursday 24 July to Sunday 3 August (except
Tuesday 29 July).
Award-winning theatre-maker Kieran Hurley (Rantin’, Beats, Chalk Farm) will join
Graham McLaren to host Dear Glasgow, a one-off, three hour public participatory
powwow in the South Rotunda on Thursday 31 July. Inspired by the old man from The
Tin Forest story who changes the world around him for the better, a live public audience
– and simultaneous online audience – will be invited to create a blueprint for Glasgow’s
future. Following the format of an open space event, the audience will be divided into
groups and asked to generate ideas and provocations for further discussion. A team of
digital scribes will relay key points via handheld tablets onto a huge video wall inside the
South Rotunda and onto The Tin Forest website, while a live band interprets the
evening’s discussion in improvised song. It is hoped that the discussion will continue
online, after the event.
The newly created “upstairs” performance space in the South Rotunda will also play
host to an International Theatre Festival, where 100 young people, aged 16-25,
representing 10 youth theatre companies from across the Commonwealth, will perform
new productions responding to The Tin Forest theme of “from nowhere….to
somewhere.” Companies from Jamaica, New Zealand, India, Malta, Bangladesh and
England will join Scottish groups from Aberdeen, Buckhaven, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Two groups will perform each evening from Thursday 24 – Monday 28 July
(performances at 7.30pm and 9.15pm). By day, participants will take part in theatremaking and cultural exchange workshops at Scottish Youth Theatre headquarters in the
Merchant City. Performances and workshop highlights will be broadcast daily on a
dedicated Tin Forest TV channel, created by students from Glasgow Clyde College’s TV
Production and Creative Industries courses.
Scottish Youth Theatre will also direct an International Performing Company of 90
young Commonwealth people, for a series of travelling street theatre events at famous
locations along the Clydeside. The Riverside Museum, Barrowland Park, the Waterbus
Terminal, Custom House Quay, Tradeston Footbridge and the South Rotunda itself will
provide the backdrops to performances depicting the people who have lived in and
passed through Glasgow: the Workers, the Dreamers, the Forgotten, the Players and the
Travellers. Performances take place from Monday 21 to Wednesday 23 July, ahead of
the South Rotunda opening its doors for the first time on Thursday 24 July.
International Performing Company locations and schedule available at
www.thetinforest.com.
Graham McLaren, Director of The Tin Forest Festival says:
“Like many Glaswegians, I’ve often passed the magnificent South Rotunda and
wondered what might lie behind its walls. I’ve fantasized about getting my hands on the
keys and creating something special inside. To be here now, as the city prepares to
welcome the world for the Commonwealth Games and a feast of cultural celebration in this year when so many eyes are on Scotland - I can’t think of a place I’d rather be.”
PRESS TICKETS
Press tickets are available for:
THE TIN FOREST SHOW: A PUPPET THEATRE EXPERIENCE
Thursday 24th July: performances every ten minutes from 2.30pm – 3.20pm
Press tickets are available for:
THE TIN FOREST OPENING EVENT
Tuesday 22nd July, 7.30pm
Press tickets are available for:
THE TIN FOREST INTERNATIONAL THEATRE FESTIVAL
Two performances each evening from Thursday 24th – Monday 28th July, at 7.30pm + 9.15pm
To reserve a ticket for any of the above, please contact Adam McDougall:
E: adam.mcdougall@nationaltheatrescotland.com T: 0141 227 9231
LISTINGS INFORMATION
THE TIN FOREST OPENING EVENT
Venue:
Entrance:
Duration:
Date/Time:
Tickets:
Box office:
Accessibility:
Age guide:
The South Rotunda Courtyard
Govan Road by the Squinty Bridge (Clyde Arc)
G51 1PQ
Via box office on Govan Road side of building
90 minutes (no interval)
Tuesday 22 July 2014, 7.30pm
£5/ £3 (no booking fee)
Online: thetinforest.com
Phone: 0141 552 4267
Event is wheelchair accessible – please advise box office when booking
BSL: some aspects of performance will be BSL interpreted
Suitable for all
Outdoor Event:
Public Transport:
Car Parking:
Toilets:
Refreshments:
Please dress accordingly. Sturdy footwear advised for cobbled
courtyard.
Bus (23, 26); Rail (Exhibition Centre, 10min walk)
None on site; nearest car park at Finnieston Street (8min walk)
On site
Cash bar on site
THE TIN FOREST SHOW:
A PUPPET THEATRE EXPERIENCE
Venue:
Entrance:
Duration:
Promenade event:
Date/Time:
Audience Groups:
Tickets:
Box office:
Accessibility:
Age guide:
Public Transport:
Car Parking:
Toilets:
Refreshments:
The South Rotunda
Govan Road by the Squinty Bridge (Clyde Arc)
G51 1PQ
Audience members to gather at Box Office on Govan Road side of the
South Rotunda
30 minutes approx. (no interval)
This is a promenade performance, requiring audience members to walk
through a series of spaces and to stand; seating will be available for
older/infirm audience members unable to stand throughout the
performance
Thursday 24 July – Sunday 3 August 2014
Daily, 2.00pm – 6.00pm (except Tue 29 July)
Performances start every 10mins
Audience members will walk through the performance in groups of 10;
Our front of house team will do their best to ensure that you and your
accompanying friends/family members are kept together in the same
group.
£5/ £3 (no booking fee)
Online: thetinforest.com
Phone: 0141 552 4267
Event is wheelchair accessible – please advise box office when booking
BSL performances: Saturday 26th July, Friday 1st August
Pre-recorded audio description available by request online from
Wednesday 23rd July, and from the venue box office
Captioning: a booklet will be available at box office on request
For everyone over 8 years old not afraid of enclosed spaces and puppets
in close proximity
Bus (23, 26); Rail (Exhibition Centre, 10min walk)
None on site; nearest car park at Finnieston Street (8min walk)
On site
Nearest bars/restaurants – Congress Way / SECC Precinct (5min walk)
THE TIN FOREST INTERNATIONAL PERFORMING COMPANY
Monday 21st July
11.30am – 12.00pm (Hub active from
11.00am)
Barrowland Park
Tuesday 22nd July
11.30am – 12.00pm (Hub active from
11.00am)
Barrowland Park
The Forgotten &The Players
12.30pm – 1.00pm (Hub active from 12.00pm)
Waterbus Terminal
The Workers & The Travellers
1.30pm – 2.00pm (Hub active from 1.00pm)
Tradeston Footbridge
The Dreamers & The Forgotten
2.30pm – 3.00pm (Hub active from 2.00pm)
Custom House Quay
The Players & The Workers
4.00pm – 4.30pm (Hub active from 3.30pm)
Riverside Museum
The Travellers & The Dreamers
The Forgotten & The Travellers
12.30pm – 1.00pm (Hub active from 12.00pm)
Waterbus Terminal
The Workers & The Forgotten
1.30pm – 2.00pm (Hub active from 1.00pm)
Tradeston Footbridge
The Dreamers & The Workers
2.30pm – 3.00pm (Hub active from 2.00pm)
Custom House Quay
The Players & The Dreamers
4.00pm – 4.30pm (Hub active from 3.30pm)
Riverside Museum
The Travellers & The Players
Wednesday 23rd July
The South Rotunda, 2.30 – 3.15pm
The day before the transformed South Rotunda opens its doors, all 90 performers converge on
the courtyard by the Clyde, for a special performance uniting the five groups.



These events are free and unticketed
All venues are outdoors – please dress for the Glasgow summer!
All events are wheelchair accessible
THE TIN FOREST INTERNATIONAL THEATRE FESTIVAL
Venue:
Entrance:
Duration:
Stage reset:
Date/Time:
Seating:
Tickets:
Box office:
Accessibility:
Age guide:
Public Transport:
Car Parking:
Toilets:
Refreshments:
The South Rotunda
Govan Road by the Squinty Bridge (Clyde Arc)
G51 1PQ
Via doors either side of Box Office, on Govan Road side of building
Each show last approx. 45 minutes
The auditorium will be cleared between performances each night, to
allow the stage to be reset for the next group
24 – 28 July 2014
Daily, 7.30pm + 9.15pm
Seating is unreserved
One show per evening: £5/ £3 (no booking fee)
Two shows per evening: £8/ £6 (no booking fee)
Online: thetinforest.com
Phone: 0141 552 4267
Event is wheelchair accessible – please advise box office when booking
Suggested age guide 16+
Bus (23, 26); Rail (Exhibition Centre, 10min walk)
None on site; nearest car park at Finnieston Street (8min walk)
On site
Nearest bars/restaurants – Congress Way / SECC Precinct (5min walk)
Thursday 24th July
7.30pm – 8.30pm: Physical Theatre Scotland from Edinburgh present A Bridge to Nowhere
9.15pm – 10.15pm: theatrEX Bangladesh from Dhaka, Bangladesh present Dokkhina Sundari
Friday 25th July
7.30pm – 8.30pm: YUVA EKTA- Youth Unite from New Delhi, India present Shoonya se Shikar: a
Journey of Transformation
9.15pm – 10.15pm: Hotel Echo from Bristol present Wild Men
Saturday 26th July
7.30pm – 8.30pm: Aberdeen Performing Arts Youth Theatre from Aberdeen present Bubble
Wrap
9.15pm – 10.15pm: Teatru Manoel Youth Theatre from Valletta, Malta present CLUB
Sunday 27th July
7.30pm – 8.30pm: Collision from Buckhaven, Fife present Fragile State of Mind
9.15pm – 10.15pm: Manifesto Jamaica from Kingston, Jamaica present SomeNoWhere
Monday 28th July
7.30pm – 8.30pm: FanFiction Comedy from Auckland, New Zealand present TBC
9.15pm – 10.15pm: Urban Fairytale Theatre Company from Glasgow present Hiraeth
DEAR GLASGOW
Venue:
Entrance:
Duration:
Audience Interaction:
Date/Time:
Seating:
Tickets:
Box office:
Accessibility:
Age guide:
Public Transport:
Car Parking:
Toilets:
Refreshments:
The South Rotunda
Govan Road by the Squinty Bridge (Clyde Arc)
G51 1PQ
Via doors either side of Box Office, on Govan Road side of building
3 hours, with breaks
This is an audience interactive event – we welcome your contribution
Thursday 31st July 2014
7.30pm – 10.30pm
Seating is unreserved
£3 (no booking fee)
Online: thetinforest.com
Phone: 0141 552 4267
Event is wheelchair accessible – please advise box office when booking
Suggested age guide 12+
Bus (23, 26); Rail (Exhibition Centre, 10min walk)
None on site; nearest car park at Finnieston Street (8min walk)
On site
Cash bar on site
CREATIVE TEAM AND CAST INFO
THE TIN FOREST SHOW
Creative Team:
Graham McLaren – Director and Designer; Gavin Glover – Associate Director and Designer;
Rebecca Hamilton – Associate Designer; Iain Heggie – Dramaturg; Kai Fischer – Lighting
Designer; Matt Padden – Sound Designer; The Glasgow School of Art’s Digital Design Studio –
Video Design; Philippa Tomlin – Associate Artist; Laura Donnelly – Casting Director
Cast: Stephen Clyde, Darren Brownlie, Pete Collins, Angela Darcy, John Kazek, Harry Ward
All or Nothing Aerial Artists: Laura Cork, Sarah Miele, Zinnia Oberski
Band: Annie Grace, Signy Jakobsdottir, Neil McDermott, Gavin Prentice
THE TIN FOREST OPENING EVENT
Created by Graham McLaren, Peter Arnott and Michael John McCarthy
Cast: Morven Christie, Gary Lewis, Barbara Rafferty, Paul Riley
Band: Annie Grace, Signy Jakobsdottir, Michael John McCarthy, Neil McDermott, Cat Myers,
Gavin Prentice, Adam John Scott
Guest singers: Arthur Johnstone, Emma Pollock
Additional performances from the participants of The Tin Forest International Performing
Company, the International Theatre Festival and The Tin Forest Glasgow communities
THE TIN FOREST INTERNATIONAL PERFORMING COMPANY
Creative Team:
Fraser MacLeod – Director; Kenny Miller – Designer; Ross Brown – Composer; Carla Duggan –
Choreographer
Group Directors:
Erin Carter, Lisa Gregan, Thomas Hobbins, Rhowenna Jo MacGregor-Wilson, Fiona Manson
Group Creative Specialists:
Gary Cameron, Eilidh McRae, Ewan Manson, Debbie Montgomery, Dimitrios Paparakis
Group Associate Directors:
Jayne Austin, Nathan Byrne, Stephen McAveety, Morna McGeoch, Corrie McKendrick
DEAR GLASGOW
Created and hosted by Graham McLaren and Kieran Hurley
CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM BIOGS
THE TIN FOREST SHOW - CAST
DARREN BROWNLIE
Darren trained at the Dance School of Scotland, The Arts Educational Schools London and The
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Theatre credits include Dance Derby (Company Chordelia
/Scottish Opera), Peter Panto and the Incredible Stinkerbell, Cannibal Women of Mars, Aganeza
Scrooge, Flo White, Ya Beauty and the Beast, The Winter King (Tron, Glasgow), Bard on
Broadway, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Bard in the Botanics), Company (Insideout
Productions/Cottiers), Whisky Galore, From Paisley to Paolo (Mull Theatre), Side By Side by
Sondheim (Ivor Novello Theatre) and Feather Boy (National, London). Film and television credits
include Wiseguys, My Barmy Aunt Boomerang, Love Me Tender,The James Gang, Meet The
Magoons and Being Victor.
STEPHEN CLYDE
Stephen’s previous work for the National Theatre of Scotland includes A Christmas Carol. He has
worked with The Tron, Bard in the Botanics, Pilot Theatre, Mull Theatre, The Royal Shakespeare
Company and he Traverse. He will be involved in A Game of Soldiers (McArdle Media) at the
Edinburgh Fringe 2014. He was winner of the Best Actor award at the CATS 2012.
PETER COLLINS
Peter is a Glasgow-based actor and director. His theatre credits include The Ballad of Pondlife
McGurk (Catherine Wheels), Taming of the Shrew, Much Ado About Nothing (Manchester Royal
Exchange), How The Other Half Loves (Bolton Octagon), Macbeth, Thebans, King Lear, Julius
Ceasar, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet (Theatre Babel), Hamlet: First Cut (Red Shift), Northern
Exposure (Paines Plough), Grimm Tales (Leicester Haymarket), Caucasian Chalk Circle (Theatre
de Complicite). Television credits include Mile High, Peak Practice, Always and Everyone,
Casualty and The Hunt.
Peter was a Lead Artist on The Tin Forest community project in Southwest Glasgow.
ANGELA DARCY
Angela’s previous work with the National Theatre of Scotland includes Mary Queen of Scots Got
Her Head Chopped Off and Our Teacher’s A Troll. Other recent theatre credits include Janis
Joplin: Full Tilt (Òran Mór), Scarfed For Life (Citizens, Glasgow), Goldilocks (Platform), The 27
Club (BB Promotions/Forever 27 Productions), Mister Merlin, A Very Cosy Christmas (Tron,
Glasgow), Autobahn (Theatre Jezebel), Sub Rosa ( Fire Exit/Citizens, Glasgow), Cinderella (Byre
Theatre/Random Accomplice), Slick ( Vox Motus), Shopping For Shoes (Visible Fictions) and The
Incredible Swimming Choir (Starcatchers).
Film and television credits include High Times, Monarch Of The Glen and Rab C Nesbitt.
Angela also sings in a Glasgow based Americana/Country band called The Glass Roots.
JOHN KAZEK
John trained at The Glasgow Arts Centre and then Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
Theatre credits include Roadkill (Pachamama Productions/Richard Jordan Productions/Traverse,
Edinburgh) The Cherry Orchard (Dundee Rep), The Beauty Queen of Leenane (Lyceum,
Edinburgh). Television credits include Titanic and Spooks. He is a visiting director and lecturer for
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and East 15.
HARRY WARD
Harry is an actor and musician from Glasgow who has worked with various theatre companies
throughout Britain including Òran Mór, Vox Motus, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Company
Chordelia, Cumbernauld Theatre, Scottish Opera, Opera North, English National Opera, Mull
Theatre, Lyceum, Edinburgh, Arches, Tron, Glasgow, Perth Theatre, Visible fictions, Citizens
Theatre and Eden Court. Film and television credits include Taggart, High Times, Still Game,
Snoddy and Waterloo Road. Radio credits include Dr Finlay's Casebook and Confessions of a
Justified Sinner.
THE TIN FOREST SHOW – BAND
ANNIE GRACE
Annie has toured the globe as an actor, singer and multi-instrumentalist. She was a founder
member of the renowned Scottish band Iron Horse and has recorded extensively, including two
solo albums, the most recent being The Bell (2012).
Annie has performed in numerous theatre productions. Her previous work with the National
Theatre of Scotland includes The Great Yes, No, Don’t Know, Five Minute Theatre Show, Peter
Pan and the award-winning The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart.
SIGNY JAKOBSDOTTIR
Signy is a percussionist. Her previous work for the National Theatre of Scotland includes A Little
Bird Blown Off Course. She has performed, toured and recorded worldwide and recently
performed with Emily Smith Band, Patsy Reid, Capercaillie, The Lotus Project, The Boy and the
Bunnet and Maeve Mackinnon. Signy also works as an accompanist for dance companies and
teachers, including Scottish Ballet and Scottish Dance Theatre.
NEIL MCDERMOTT
Neil is a musician, recording engineer and teacher based in Glasgow. He is a
multi‐instrumentalist and has performed with artists including singer/songwriter Alasdair
Roberts, Breton trad band Askolenn and Alex Neilson’s The Crying Lion. He has recently been
working on recording projects for Gabrielle Aplin, Glasgow Madrigirls, Kevin Bowyer, Corran
Raa, Alasdair Roberts, The Crying Lion and Kirsty Potts and in 2013 scored two full episodes of
Channel 4 drama Skins with composer/producer David McGuinness. By day Neil teaches and
provides technical support in music at the University of Glasgow’s School of Culture and Creative
Arts.
GAVIN PRENTICE
Gav Prentice is a Glasgow-based musician. He was one half of pop duo Over the Wall, whose
work includes the album Treacherous (Motive Sounds Recordings) and its flagship single Thurso
which featured as the theme for BBC comedy series Burnistoun. His debut solo album The
Invisible Hand was released in 2012, containing songs which would later feature in the National
Theatre of Scotland’s Rantin, in which he also performed. Over the Wall recently released
the This Is How We Did It EP before a run of farewell performances in May 2014.
ALL OR NOTHING AERIAL DANCE THEATRE
All or Nothing is Scotland's leading aerial dance company. Based in Edinburgh they have been
blending aerial acrobatics with dance, theatre and contemporary circus since 2006. The aerial
artists performing in The Tin Forest are: Laura Cork, based in Sheffield Laura performs across the
world and was part of the aerial team for the London 2012 Olympic Games Ceremonies, Sarah
Miele, is currently studying on the BA Acting programme at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
has been training and performing as an aerialist since 2010, Zinnia Oberski splits her time
between Tilburg in the Netherlands and Scotland, performing and training in static trapeze and
all kind of aerial arts.
THE TIN FOREST SHOW – CREATIVE TEAM
GRAHAM MCLAREN
Director, Set and Costume 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 Co-Creative 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 In Time O’ Strife, A Dolls
House, A Christmas Carol and Men Should Weep.
GAVIN GLOVER
Associate Director and Designer
Gavin is the founder member of FaultyOptic Theatre of Animation which toured its surreal and
unique adult puppet shows around the world from 1988. In 2011 he became a freelance theatre
director, designer and maker specialising in puppetry and visual theatre for an adult audience.
He makes and helps to create performance works which explore a mixture of puppets, acting,
clowning, video, movement and dance. His previous work for the National Theatre of Scotland
includes A Christmas Carol. He has also performed at the BBC and designed for Halle Theatre in
Germany.
MICHAEL JOHN MCCARTHY
Musical Director
Michael John is a Cork-born, Glasgow-based composer and musician. He has previously worked
with the National Theatre of Scotland on In Time O' Strife, The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two
Goldfish, Reasons To Dance, Truant, 99...100, Dolls and Transform Dumfries. Recent music for
performance includes Under Milk Wood (Tron Theatre), Glory (Janice Parker Projects), The BFG
(Dundee Rep) The Drowning Pond (Youth Music Theatre UK) & The Winter’s Tale (People’s Light
& Theatre, Philadelphia). He has also worked with The Arches, Citizens Theatre, Kai Fischer, Grid
Iron, Lung Ha's, macrobert, Platform, Playgroup, AJ Taudevin, Theatre Uncut, Utter & Vox
Motus. As a musician he has played accordion and guitar with Zoey Van Goey, RM Hubbert, Lord
Cut-Glass, Jo Mango, Aidan Moffat, Alasdair Roberts, Trembling Bells & Bonnie Prince Billy
amongst others.
REBECCA HAMILTON
Associate Designer
Rebecca trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama where she specialised in set
and costume design, scenic art and prop making. She works throughout Scotland as a designer,
model maker, scenic artist and painter for visual artists. Companies Rebecca has worked for
include Vox Motus, Iron Oxide, Tramway, BBC Scotland and Channel 4.
IAN HEGGIE
Dramaturg
Iain is a playwright and acting teacher. His previous work as a dramaturg for the National
Theatre of Scotland includes In Time O’ Strife and, as a writer, the James VI and I monologue in
Dear Scotland. Other writing credits include his recent Traverse/ Òran Mór, show Queen Of
Lucky People, A Wholly Healthy Glasgow, American Bagpipes, Politics In The Park, The Sex
Comedies, Wiping My Mother’s Arse, Sauchiehall Street, An Experienced Woman Gives Advice,
King Of Scotland and The Tobacco Merchant’s Lawyer. His awards include Edinburgh Festival
Fringe Firsts, for Wiping My Mother’s Arse and King of Scotland, The John Whiting Award for
American Bagpipes and the Mobil Award for A Wholly Healthy Glasgow. His touring show Tragic
(When My Mother Married My Uncle), a one man modern version of Hamlet, is touring Scotland
in the autumn.
PHILIPPA TOMLIN
Associate Artist
Philippa Tomlin is the Creative Learning Coordinator for the National Theatre of Scotland and is
a community theatre maker. She was the Lead Artist on The Tin Forest community project in
Springburn. Her recent work includes Common Man; Other; #Take a Stand and Reasons To
Dance. She graduated from Queen Margaret University College with BA (Hons) Drama and
Theatre Arts. She previously worked at the Lyceum and as a freelance theatre-maker and
director.
KAI FISCHER
Lighting Designer
Kai’s recent work as a lighting designer for the National Theatre of Scotland includes The Riot of
Spring, Pink Mist, Julie and Gobbo. Other credits include the London West End production of
Great Expectations (Beckman Unicorn), Mwana (Ankur), Medea's Children (Lung Ha's), One
Million Tiny Plays About Britain, Othello, Museum of Dreams (Citizens, Glasgow), Pinocchio
(Perth Theatre), The Mystery of Irma Vep (Royal Lyceum Edinburgh), The Indian Wants The
Bronx (Young Vic London), Macbeth (Theatre Babel at Hong Kong Cultural Centre), 4.48
Psychosis (Sweetscar) and The Pearlfisher (Traverse, Edinburgh). His recent set and lighting
design credits for the National Theatre of Scotland include The Beautiful Cosmos of Ivor Cutler,
Little Otik (with Vanishing Point), Somersaults, Mancub and Home Caithness. Other credits
include Wonderland, Saturday Night, Interiors, Subway, Lost Ones (Vanishing Point), A
Midsummer Night's Dream and Wondrous Flitting (Royal Lyceum Edinburgh). Kai has been an
Artistic Associate of Vanishing Point since 1999.
MATT PADDEN
Sound Designer
Matt is a sound designer and engineer. Since 2008, he has been Head of Sound for the National
Theatre of Scotland, where his designs include A Christmas Carol, Rantin, Long Gone Lonesome,
Wall of Death: A Way of Life and, as Technical Sound Designer, Enquirer. Other sound designs
include Entartet (Kai Fischer/Vanishing Point/CCA), Subway (Vanishing Point) and Woyzeck
(Corcadorca).
THE TIN FOREST OPENING EVENT - CAST
MORVEN CHRISTIE
Morven has worked extensively in theatre, with credits including Men Should Weep (National
Theatre of Great Britain), The Bridge Project (BAM, Old Vic), The Cherry Orchard, The Winter’s
Tale, Romeo & Juliet (RSC) and Festen (Lyric Theatre). Feature film credits include The Young
Victoria, The Flying Scotsman and Lilting. Television work includes Twenty Twelve, Silent
Witness, Quite Ugly One Morning, Harley Street and Hunted. Radio credits include Life and Fate,
An Inspector Calls and The Old Curiosity Shop.
GARY LEWIS
Gary Lewis has become internationally known for such high profile roles as the troubled father
in Billy Elliot and the volatile McGloin in Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York. He has appeared
in many critically acclaimed films, including My Name Is Joe and the Oscar nominated Joyeux
Noel. He won Best Actor award at Gijon Film Festival for his role in Peter Mullan’s Orphans.
His work on flagship television shows such as Prime Suspect attracted praise and he was BAFTA
nominated for his role in Mo alongside Julie Walters. His most recent work includes Outlander
the epic Scottish drama for Starz TV, Libertador, a film about the life of Simon Bolivar and The
Strange Case of Wilhelm Reich. Gary also starred in the acclaimed BBC One drama Case
Histories. He continues to work on short films, such as The Terms directed by Jason LaMotte.
BARBARA RAFFERTY
Barbara is a well-known and much loved Scottish actress. She trained at RSAMD in Glasgow and
is best known for playing Ella Cotter in Rab C Nesbitt. She also appeared in the BBC Scotland
soap River City as Shirley Henderson. Her other television credits include Hamish MacBeth,
Rockface, How to Become a Rock Star, Take the High Road and Sea of Souls.
In 2006 Barbara starred as Mrs Garrigan in the feature film The Last King Of Scotland. She has
also appeared in films such as The Wicker Man, Women Talking Dirty, Billy Bingo and A Fine
Romance. Barbara has worked in most theatres in Britain, her most recent show being The
Libertine at The Citizens Theatre Glasgow and Bristol Old Vic. She has also played a variety of
pantomime characters over the years at the Kings Theatre, Glasgow. In 2013 she played the part
of the wicked stepmother in a pantomime of Cinderella at His Majesty’s Theatre Aberdeen.
PAUL RILEY
Paul graduated from RSAMD in 1991. His theatre portfolio includes performances in
Trainspotting, Glengarry Glen Ross, A Midsummer Nights Dream, Chewin’ the Fat, Still Game and
appeared in Babes in the Wood at the Kings Theatre. Paul is perhaps best remembered for his
role as Winston in still game which ran for six series and earned him a Bafta for best
performance. He then went on to write, star and produce his own sitcom, Dear Green Place,
which ran for two series and earned him a second Bafta for best entertainment. Television
appearances include Taggart, High Road, Rab C Nesbitt and Chewin’ the Fat and “Still Game”.
THE TIN FOREST OPENING EVENT – BAND
ANNIE GRACE – see above
SIGNY JAKOBSDOTTIR – see above
ARTHUR JOHNSTONE
Arthur is an actor and folk singer who has many years’ experience as a performer in folk clubs
and festivals in Scotland and Canada. Arthur was lead singer for many years with folk group The
Laggan, with whom he recorded three albums. He has released two CDs as a solo artist, with a
third, Down Through the Years, soon to be completed. Arthur also sung for Nelson Mandela in
George Square, Glasgow, when he came to receive the Freedom of the City in 1993. Previous
credits for the National Theatre of Scotland includes Men Should Weep. His work for theatre
includes Turning of the Century and The Eskimo Republic. Television work includes Poems and
Pints, A Tribute to Norrie Buchan and Scotland’s Music. Radio work includes The Long Note,
Celtic Horizons and Travelling Folk.
MICHAEL JOHN MCCARTHY – see above
NEIL MCDERMOTT – see above
CAT MYERS – see above
EMMA POLLOCK
Emma is a singer-songwriter preparing to record her third solo album. She was a founding
member of critically acclaimed Scottish band The Delgados, with whom she co-wrote and shared
lead vocal duties on the band’s five studio albums before their split in 2005. She has also taken
part in many collaborative projects; most notably The Burns Unit also featuring King Creosote &
Karine Polwart, which resulted in 2010’s debut album for the band ‘Sideshow’ and a ‘Later With
Jools Holland’ appearance. Emma also helped set up The Fruit Tree Foundation with Rod Jones
(Idlewild) in 2010, which brought 8 Scottish songwriters together, including James Yorkston, Jill
O’Sullivan (Sparrow & The Workshop) and James Graham (Twilight Sad) to create brand new
material to be released the following year as the album First Edition. 2011/2012 saw Emma
embark on further co-writing projects, in particular with R.M.Hubbert on their song Half Light
which was included on his 2012 album Thirteen Lost & Found.
ADAM JOHN SCOTT
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. Previous work for the National Theatre of Scotland
include In Time o’ Strife. Other theatre credits include The Bookie (Cumbernauld Theatre).
THE TIN FOREST OPENING EVENT – CREATIVE TEAM
GRAHAM MCLAREN – see above
MICHAEL JOHN MCCARTHY – see above
PETER ARNOTT
Peter was born in Glasgow in 1962. He began his career at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh in
May 1985 with White Rose. That same month his play The Boxer Benny Lynch opened in
Glasgow Arts Centre. He is the writer of some 40 professionally produced theatre plays. He won
a Fringe First in Edinburgh in 2012 with Why Do You Stand There in the Rain? performed by
students from Pepperdine University in California. His first Radio Play, The Genesis Rock, was
broadcast in March this year and his Janis Joplin: Full Tilt debuted at Òran Mór in November this
year and is being revived at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2014. He has worked in the UK, and
in Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, Moscow and Malibu. He is a founder member of The Fence, an
international network of playwrights and dramaturgs.
DEAR GLASGOW – CREATIVE TEAM
GRAHAM MCLAREN – see above
KIERAN HURLEY
Kieran Hurley is an award-winning writer, performer, and theatre-maker based in Glasgow. His
previous work for the National Theatre of Scotland includes Rantin’. His work has been
presented internationally and throughout the U.K. His monologue Beats was developed with the
Arches Platform 18 Award and was awarded Best New Play at the Critics’ Awards For Theatre in
Scotland (CATS). Other works include Hitch (Arches, Forest Fringe, CATS Best New Play nominee)
and Chalk Farm (co-written with AJ Taudevin, Òran Mór, ThickSkin). Kieran has frequently
written for collaborative projects such as The Jean-Jacques Rousseau Show, Demons, and The
Deficit Show (Òran Mór, OTT), and Whatever Gets You Through The Night (Arches), and has been
a regular contributor to Theatre Uncut with his plays Amanda and London 2012: Glasgow.
Kieran has recently completed a year as playwright-in-residence with the National Theatre of
Scotland as recipient of the Pearson Playwrights’ Scheme bursary.
----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
Katie Mackenzie, Communications Officer (temp) at National Theatre of Scotland
Tel: +44 (0)141 221 0970 / +44 (0)7709 127711
E: katie.mackenzie@nationaltheatrescotland.com
Further information at:
www.thetinforest.com
www.nationaltheatrescotland.com
www.facebook.com/NationalTheatreScotland
www.twitter.com @NTSonline #TinForest
Notes to editors:
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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.
Scottish Youth Theatre – giving young people in Scotland the opportunity to explore
and to reach their creative potential through a quality theatre arts experience. Using the
youth theatre/drama process to develop not only creativity and performance skills but
also transferable skills in participants, Scottish Youth Theatre puts particular emphasis
on each individual’s personal and social development.
The Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme is a national celebration. Culture 2014 is
showcasing dance, theatre, music, visual arts, comedy and much more in the run up to
and after the Commonwealth Games, with Festival 2014 transforming the Host City at
Games time. The Cultural Programme is a partnership between the Glasgow 2014
Organising Committee, Glasgow Life, and Creative Scotland through National Lottery
funding. www.glasgow2014.com/culture
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is an international charitable foundation with
cultural, educational, social and scientific interests. Based in Lisbon with offices in
London and Paris, the Foundation is in a privileged position to support national and
transnational work tackling contemporary issues. The purpose of the UK Branch is to
bring about long-term improvements in well-being, particularly for the most vulnerable,
by creating connections across boundaries (national borders, communities, disciplines
and sectors) which deliver social, cultural and environmental value. We support
innovative projects and partnerships within time-limited and purposeful strands of
activity. For more information about the work of the Foundation in the UK visit
Partnerships and Initiatives at www.gulbenkian.org.uk
Homecoming Scotland 2014 Scotland will welcome the world in the Year of
Homecoming 2014 - providing a year-long programme of events alongside the Ryder
Cup and Commonwealth Games. The Year of Homecoming Scotland will run from 31
December 2013 to 31 December 2014 throughout the length and breadth of the
country. Visitors from around the world are invited to join in a celebration of the
nation’s food and drink, active pursuits, cultural heritage, nature and ancestral heritage.
Homecoming Scotland 2014 is a Scottish Government initiative being led by
EventScotland and VisitScotland, supported by numerous partners. To find out more
visitwww.homecomingscotland.com
The New Arts Sponsorship Grants scheme incentivises businesses to sponsor the arts in
Scotland. It is funded by the Scottish Government and administered by Arts & Business
Scotland. An arts organisation receiving an eligible business sponsorship can apply for
£1 of funding for every £1 of sponsorship. The funding goes towards additional arts
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activity, for which the sponsor receives additional business benefits.
www.aandbscotland.org.uk
The Guardian reviews The Tin Forest by Helen Ward: “Some children's picture books
are real works of art and this is one of those. The very best books for both adults and
children often take you deep into the unconscious or show you the world as if through a
prism. This, again, is one of them. Austere and yet visually rich, needing few words and
yet saying so much, this is a wonderful fable about making something from nothing,
seeing the beauty lurking among the junk, and about reaping what you sow.”
www.guardian.com - 22nd July 2008