Three Caithness organisations have joined forces this year for a three-day festival called ‘Light in the North – a Celebration of the Life and Work of Neil M. Gunn’ in Dunbeath, Caithness (8-10 November).  Although the event, hosted by Dunbeath Preservation Trust, has happened annually since 2002, Highland 2007 the Year of Highland Culture, has provided funding to create a stunning programme for 2007.

On 8 and 9 November, Grey Coast Theatre Company opens the festival, presenting pupils from Dunbeath and Lybster primary schools in ‘Butchers Broom’, a dramatised song-cycle with lyrics by George Gunn and music by Andy Thorburn of Blazin’ Fiddles, based on Neil Gunn’s great novel of the Highland Clearances.  As George Gunn says, "The best way to understand the past is to have the children sing it.  This is what Grey Coast’s production of Butchers Broom does."   Louise Allan, originally from Wick, directs.

Saturday 10 November has a full and varied programme organized by Scotia Review.  A new edition of Neil Gunn’s novel, ‘The Lost Glen’ will be launched by Whittles Publishing Ltd.  Dairmid Gunn, nephew of Neil and writer of the introduction to the novel, will introduce two other speakers. Dr Donna Heddle from the University of the Highlands and Islands (Orkney College) will contemplate 'The Lost Glen, Neil Gunn, and Cultural Space', while Andrew Sneddon from Stirling University chooses for his theme ‘Neil Gunn, Nationalism, and the Politics of The Lost Glen’.

In his workshop, ‘Telling Tales’ – a practical introduction to storytelling, Bob Pegg will use the brilliantly atmospheric salmon bothy at Dunbeath harbour to teach traditional storytelling skills.  Where to find new stories; how to build up a personal story repertoire; ways to help you remember stories; finding suitable places and creating new opportunities for storytelling; making contact with an audience, and ways to break the ice; creating a storywalk for your area; using your personal talents to enhance your storytelling.  He will follow this with his own new show, ‘The People of the Sea’, a treasure chest of stories, music and song, inspired by David Thomson's celebrated book, also called The People of the Sea, (1954).

For those who want to walk the landscape Neil Gunn wrote about, Nan Bethune, chair of Dunbeath Preservation Trust will guide readers through ‘The Landscape of Neil Gunn’s Early Novels’.

During the evening, Eddie Stiven’s ‘Seeker Reaper’ is a dramatisation of the tales and reminiscences of the ring-net herring fishermen - illustrated by Lachie Paterson with rare slides and old film, accompanied by the music of the sea - and incorporating George Campbell Hay’s great poem in praise of the boats in which they sailed.

Finally, with ‘Sea Wrack’ George Gunn and Andy Thorburn return to round off the festival, this time with a performance of their own original poetry and music, built round the theme of the sea.

Light in the North is a tribute to a giant of Scottish literature in his home township.  In his turn, Neil Gunn would surely applaud the creativity on display during this weekend.

There will be a special bus from Thurso-Dunbeath via Castletown, Wick and Lybster on Saturday 10 November. It will return to Thurso on the same route at the end of the day.

• Thurso - Tourist Information Centre, Riverside 9.00am
• Castletown – Bus shelter 9.10am
• Wick – St Fergus Road (Somerfield) 9.40am
• Lybster – Portland Arms 10.00am

Tickets:

• Launch of ‘The Lost Glen’ – FREE
• Tickets for all other events £3/£2 – available at the door
• Full Day Ticket including Bus Travel £15.00
• Booking advised for ‘Telling Tales’ – Tel. 07918 171 347

For more information and programme details contact:

Grey Coast Theatre Company
01847 895500
info@greycoast.org.uk

Scotia Review
07918 171 347
editor@scotiareview.org
www.scotiareview.org