Highland play to be performed in region for first time at Eden Court in Inverness
A play commissioned, written and produced in the Highlands is set to be performed in the region for the first time this weekend.
The Wound, the Rag and the In-Between will also feature a cast and crew mostly from the Highlands when it hits the stage at Eden Court on Saturday at 7.30pm.
This original play, which was created by a new generation of Highland theatre makers, follows a Highland journalist as she unravels a Victorian death and exposes secrets that have been buried for generations.
Central to the play's story and staging is a clootie tree, a place where people have tied rags for generations to ask for healing. The play draws inspiration from Highland history to explore ideas of mortality, trust, health and folklore. The production follows five different characters from Victorian times to the present day, as they come to terms with their relationship with a body in the bog. Who lies buried, and why did they come to rest in this place?
Commissioned by Highlands-based theatre company Vivid Roots Collective, The Wound, the Rag, and the In-Between features an original script written by Highland writer Annie MacDonald and is directed by emerging Inverness-based director, Keira Smith.
Annie MacDonald said: “I’m delighted to see this production come to life. I’ve taken inspiration rooted in Highland heritage, from the archives of the Inverness District Asylum to the grave of Betty Corrigall in Orkney. It began as lesser known narratives of lived experiences of the area, and from these fragments, a fictional story formed that encapsulates something very special. It has ended as something that feels very connected to this place and the community.”
The production has been funded by the National Lottery via Creative Scotland and supported by Eden Court.
Laura Walker, CEO / Creative Producer, Vivid Roots Collective, said: “This is an exciting first for our company, for Eden Court, and for the Highlands. Our work is all about creating more professional opportunities in theatre for those who are new to their career or live in the Highlands, and we are thrilled to be bringing this gorgeous play to the Eden Court stage, staffed by a phenomenal team of emerging and Highland theatre-makers.”
The production team include freelance stage manager Caitlin Riddell, who hails from Lossiemouth but now lives in Nairn, and who has a wide range of experience in theatre, most recently at the SPARK Festival (2024) and enjoys working with local amateur musical theatre groups to make technical theatre more accessible to young people who may be interested.
