Nairn Little Theatre set to host exhibition theatre piece inspired by mum’s fantastic life
Nairn is set to welcome an eclectic exhibition theatre installation co-created by the son of two well-known local creatives.
The Fantastic Life of Minnie Rubinski will come to The Little Theatre in Nairn in March, facilitated by Nairn Book and Arts Festival between March 12 and March 16.
The theatrical production by acclaimed Scottish arts company Vision Mechanics - creators of Storm, the giant puppet that toured around Scotland - showcases the memories of Minnie Rubinski, a woman in her eighties and living in a care home as she looks back on her fantastic life.
Audiences enter a giant brain, hear Minnie’s fragmented thoughts and follow pulsing synapses to where her memories are stored.
Her recollections from childhood to the present day are recounted through filmed vignettes with characters played by a cast of beautifully carved marionettes, placed in perfectly detailed period sets, inviting audience members to piece together her remarkable life story.
The core creative team behind the production is made up of Symon Macintyre (Artistic Director) and Kim Bergsagel (Creative Director).
Mr Macintyre is the son of two well-known and loved Nairn creatives, the late Gordon and Muriel Macintyre, who founded and ran the acclaimed Nairn Pottery.
The installation is inspired by Ms Bergsagel’s experience of her mother’s life, and is adapted from fragments of phone calls and family anecdotes.
She explained: “My mother, born in New York State in 1934, had a colourful life which according to her stories became more varied and diverse the older she got.
“Her careers ranged from being a classical pianist to an investigative journalist and by the time the COVID pandemic began, she was ready to save the world with her medical knowledge and believed the world was waiting for her to do so.
“The production was made during 2020-22 in recognition of my incredible mother.”
For more information on the show and tickets, visit www.nairnlittletheatre.org.uk.
