PRESS RELEASE
National Theatre of Scotland and Live Theatre present
OUR LADIES OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR
based on The Sopranos by Alan Warner, adapted by Lee Hall.
A WORLD PREMIERE
Touring to the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Fife, Inverness,
Musselburgh and Live Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne.
From 18 August to 24 October 2015, with an opening performance on 19 August 2015
Directed by Vicky Featherstone, Music Supervisor, Martin Lowe; Designed by Chloe Lamford,
Lighting Design by Lizzie Powell and Choregraphy by Imogen Knight.
Full cast: Melissa Allan, Caroline Deyga, Karen Fishwick, Kirsty MacLaren, Frances Mayli McCann
and Dawn Sievewright.
National Theatre of Scotland is thrilled to be presenting the world premiere of Our Ladies of
Perpetual Succour at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2015, at the Traverse Theatre, in a co-production
with Live Theatre. Based on The Sopranos by cult Scottish novelist Alan Warner, and adapted for the
stage by award-winning writer Lee Hall, Our Ladies… also marks Vicky Featherstone’s return to the
National Theatre of Scotland. Vicky Featherstone was the inaugural Artistic Director of the National
Theatre of Scotland and is now the Artistic Director of the Royal Court Theatre, London.
The show will open at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on 19 August 2015 for its Edinburgh Festival
Fringe run, before touring to Glasgow, Aberdeen, Fife, Musselburgh and Newcastle.
Adapted from Alan Warner's brilliant novel about six girls on the cusp of change. Love, lust,
pregnancy and death all spiral out of control in a single day. Warner's blisteringly funny dialogue
ends in fireworks (literally). Warner, whose 1995 debut novel Morvern Callar became a literary
phenomenon, continues his themes of being young, lost and out of control in this musical play about
losing your virginity and finding yourself.
With a soundtrack of classical music and 70s pop rock, featuring music by Handel, Bach and ELO, Our
Ladies… is an outrageous piece of new music theatre with Tony-winning Martin Lowe (Once) as
Music Supervisor.
Vicky Featherstone returns to the National Theatre of Scotland for the first time since her
appointment as Artistic Director at the Royal Court Theatre, to collaborate with Lee Hall,
(Shakespeare in Love, Billy Elliot and The Pitmen Painters), to create a funny, sad and raucously rude
production about singing, sex and sambuca.
Alan Warner wrote The Sopranos in 1998, followed by its sequel The Stars in the Bright Sky which
was long listed for the 2010 Man Booker Prize. He has written eight novels and is best known for
Movern Callar which was made into a film starring Samantha Morton in 2002. His most recent novel
is Their Lips Talk of Mischief, published by Faber in 2014.
A cast of young Scottish musical theatre actresses take on the roles of Fionnula, Kylah, Kay, Manda,
Chell and Orla. The cast features Dawn Sievewright (Legally Blond) and Karen Fishwick (The
Overcoat for Gecko Theatre and Caucasian Chalk Circle for The Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh) , who
return to work with the National Theatre of Scotland, having both previously appeared in the awardwinning musical, The Glasgow Girls. They are joined by Caroline Deyga who most recently appeared
in Lucy Porter’s Fair Intellectual Club, Frances Mayli McCann (National Theatre’s Here Lies Love and
Priscilla Queen of the Desert in the West End), Kirsty MacLaren (Piltochry Festival Theatre
season)and Melissa Allan who is making her professional debut in the production. The cast will be
joined on stage by a trio of young female musicians, Amy Shackcloth, Becky Brass and Emily Linden.
Lee Hall says “I am delighted to be working for the first time with the National Theatre of Scotland.
This is a project I've wanted to bring to the stage since I first read the book 17 years ago. Alan
Warner's view of the world chimed so much with my own experience of growing up in Newcastle so it
seemed a perfect project to work on as a co-production with Live Theatre where I have a very long
association. I think the Scots and Geordies share a common understanding of the world. A robust
sense of humour, an appetite for a good time and a lack of pretension about what Art should be. The
Sopranos is filthy, manic, hilarious and heartbreaking in equal measure - all the things I think theatre
should be. Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour is a show full of music from the most exquisite classical
choral pieces to foot stomping disco classics and much else in between. This is a very special show
and very much a labour of love for Vicky Featherstone and I who have been working on this for
several years now.”
Vicky Featherstone, director says “I am beyond thrilled that Alan Warner has trusted Lee Hall with
his game-changing novel about the Soprano's from Oban and am honoured that Laurie Sansom has
programmed this anarchic, heart-breaking and life-filled show. It is everything that Scotland is fearless, hopeful, musical, angry, unique and I cannot wait to be back telling this story with the
National Theatre of Scotland.”
Alan Warner says “I am flattered that The National Theatre of Scotland and talents like Lee and Vicky
are taking on these young loonies, who are dear to my heart. Enjoy it, everyone”
Max Roberts, Artistic Director, Live Theatre says “Live Theatre has enjoyed a long and fruitful
creative relationship with Lee Hall so we are delighted to collaborate with National Theatre of
Scotland in this co-production of his adaptation of The Sopranos by Alan Warner. I’m sure our
audiences will be thrilled to see Lee’s latest work and will extend a warm Tyneside welcome to the
company for the play’s English Premiere.”
Tour Dates: Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, (18 to 30 August); Tron Theatre, Glasgow
(8 to 12 September); Lemon Tree, Aberdeen (15 & 16 September); One Touch Theatre, Eden Court,
Inverness (18 to 19 September); Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy, Fife (22 & 23 September); The
Brunton, Musselburgh (September 25 &26); Live Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne (1 to 24 October).
Join the conversation: #OurLadies
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NOTES TO EDITORS
1. 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 creating ground-breaking productions and working with the most talented theatremakers, 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
2. Live Theatre is recognised as one of the great new writing theatres on the international
stage. Based in Newcastle upon Tyne it is also deeply rooted in its local community. Live
Theatre produces work as varied and diverse as the audiences it engages with. As well as
championing the art of writing for stage by producing and presenting new plays, Live
Theatre uses theatre to unlock the potential of young people and finds, nurtures and trains
creative talent. Through its creative enterprises it is also developing new models of business
sustainability and growth. Founded in 1973, the theatre was transformed in 2007. The
result is a beautifully restored and refurbished complex of five Grade II listed buildings with
state-of-the-art facilities in a unique historical setting, including a cabaret style theatre, a
studio theatre, renovated rehearsal rooms, a series of dedicated writer’s rooms as well as a
thriving café and bar. For more information see www.live.org.uk
Live Theatre is grateful for the support of Arts Council England and Newcastle City Council
and our many other friends and supporters.
NATIONAL THEATRE OF SCOTLAND ARTISTS 2015
Vicky Featherstone- Director of Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour
Vicky is the Artistic Director at the Royal Court Theatre. In this role her directing credits have
included Dennis Kelly’s The Ritual Slaughter of George Mastromas, Abi Morgan’s The Mistress
Contract and Molly Davies’ God Bless the Child, and Zinnie Harris’ How To Hold Your Breath. She
opened her first season at the Royal Court Theatre with Open Court – a festival of plays, ideas and
events, chosen by over 140 writers. At National Theatre of Scotland, her credits included Enquirer
(co-directed with John Tiffany), Appointment With The Wicker Man and 27. Vicky Featherstone was
the inaugural Artistic Director of the National Theatre of Scotland (2004 to 2013) and was previously
Artistic Director of Paines Plough (1997 to 2004).
Lee Hall – Adapter of Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour
Lee was born in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1966. He studied English Literature at the University of
Cambridge and has worked as a writer in theatre, TV, radio and film. He has been writer in residence
at the Royal Shakespeare Company and Live Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne. Previous theatre work
includes Shakespeare In Love (2014), Noel Coward Theatre (West End); The Pitmen Painters (20072013), Live Theatre/ Royal National Theatre, Broadway, West End, UK Tours (winner Evening
Standard Best Play Award, TMA Best New Play Award); and Billy Elliot - the Musical, London 2004-,
Australia 2006-7, Broadway, 2008- , Chicago, 2010 (Olivier Award - Best Musical, 9 Tony Awards
including Best Book). Film and television credits include War Horse (2011), DreamWorks; Toast
(2010); and Billy Elliot (2000), Working Title Films (Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay).
Alan Warner – Author of The Sopranos, adapted as Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour
Alan was born in Oban in 1964 and grew up there. He is the author of eight novels including Morvern
Callar which was made into a film starring Samantha Morton in 2002, These Demented Lands, The
Man Who Walks, The Worms Can Carry Me To Heaven, The Stars in the Bright Sky which was
longlisted for the 2010 Man Booker Prize and The Deadman's Pedal which won the 2013 James Tait
National Theatre of Scotland Press contact :
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Tel: +44 (0)141 227 9016 M: +44 (0)7930 308018
Joe Blythe – Press Officer – emma.schad@nationaltheatrescotland.com
Tel: +44 (0)141 227 9497 M: +44 (0)7500 258404
You can follow the National Theatre of Scotland’s press office on Twitter @NTS_press
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Ends