Ayrshire Craigie Folk Club organiser Dave Dewar, who also runs Cultural Connections Theatre Group, has a new play with music for 2018, which is set to have a mini-tour soon. It performs in three stunning venues, Ayrshire’s Dumfries House 25th November, Glasgow University Memorial Chapel 30th November and Edinburgh’s Augustine United Church 2nd December. The play includes 8 established Scottish folk musicians, 2 actors, 1 narrator and 1 reader, and tells the story of one of Scotland’s most inspiring women.
Edinburgh suffragist and surgeon Elsie Inglis made her name during World War 1 by setting up Scottish Women’s Hospitals for Foreign Service, a unique all-women medical service to serve at the war front. When Doctor Inglis approached the British War Office to offer their services, she was rejected with the expression “My good lady go home and sit still.” Other Allied nations welcomed their offer, and 1500 women served in 14 medical units in Serbia, Russia, Rumania Greece and France. They were hugely successful in saving thousands of lives. Winston Churchill said that “their memory would shine in history.”
The musicians are:
Fiona Cuthill fiddle
Stevie Lawrence guitar, bouzouki and percussion,
Ian Walker singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist
Moe Walker vocals
Billy Stewart singer-songwriter, guitar and vocals
Stan Graham singer-songwriter, guitar and vocals
Wendy Weatherby cello and vocals
Stephen Devine piano
The remaining cast include actors Sharon Osdin and Shona Riley, reader David Hogg and the narrator is Dave Dewar.
The play’s timing is relevant, with 2018 being the anniversary of the ending of the Great War, and the granting of some women the vote.
For tickets the link is http://www.cultural-connections.co.uk/events.html