"For it is written that a great sign was seen in heaven. It was a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars." Revelations xxii.

Following spring 2006’s production of Ali Smith’s The Seer, Dogstar presents The Heretic’s Tale a new play by Hamish MacDonald with Annie Grace as Elspeth Buchan and Matthew Zajac as Andrew Innes, Christine Hanson on cello. Directed by Stephen Docherty, Set by David Ramsay, Lighting by Cara Wiseman and Costumes by Angelina Gerrard.

The extraordinary story of 18th century heretic Elspeth Buchan and her followers is one which shocked all Scotland. Incest, infanticide, cannibalism, and mass sexual abandon are the familiar procession of rumours which attend The Buchanites, the apocalyptic cult which began in the Ayrshire town of Irvine and was described by Robert Burns as “the most extraordinary phenomenon in the moral world”. What drove this woman to flout the conventions of her time and suffer the mockery and ire of the established church and authorities? How did she succeed in gathering 80 devoted disciples, from the highest ranks to the lowest orders of society?

Through the eyes of her most devoted follower, Andrew Innes, the play examines fanaticism and the makings of a cult leader, charting the rise and decline of The Buchanites and their revolutionary ideas as they journeyed through Scotland awaiting Armageddon and their translation to heaven.

Dogstar has established itself in recent years as a leading new theatrical voice from the Highlands. Their popular spring production of The Seer has been one of the most extensive tours by a Scottish company in 2006. They are now returning to the work of Hamish MacDonald, writer of Dogstar’s previous productions Seven Ages, The Strathspey King and The Captain’s Collection.

Hamish MacDonald’s published works include acclaimed novel The Gravy Star (11:9 Publishing 2001), and a novella in Scots, The Girnin Gates (ItchyCoo 2003). He was the inaugural Robert Burns Writing Fellow for Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association 2003-06 . He has written two award winning series for BBC Radio Scotland: an adaptation of The Captain’s Collection, and the original radio version of The Strathspey King,. He is currently developing a new play with Mull Theatre.

Annie Grace first came to prominence during the ‘90s as a musician with the internationally acclaimed folk band Iron Horse. Her debut solo album Take Me Out Drinking Tonight (2004) received an overwhelming response, including a 5 star review in the Sunday Herald. As an actress, she has appeared in the award winning Accidental Death of an Accordionist, The Wedding & Miniatures (alltheatrecollective@ highland), The Celtic Story (Wildcat 2001), Homers (Traverse 2002), Mum’s the Word (R.C. Kelly 2003), her first one-woman show Poker Alice (Play, Pie and a Pint, 2004) and Story Nation, four plays in four days! (Dumfries and Galloway Arts 2005).

Christine Hanson is one of Scotland’s leading cellists. Her New Voices composition for this year’s Celtic Connections festival, The Cremation of Sam MacGee, according to Rob Adams in The Herald, “succeeded brilliantly… the sort of thing even a worn-out reviewer could have sat through happily all over again.”

Matthew Zajac’s recent acting work includes Seven Ages (Dogstar), Boris in Karl Marx’s Beard (Arches/Traverse), Mr Hansen in Further Than the Furthest Thing (Prime Productions) and screen appearances in ITV’s The Planman and the feature films Young Adam and Man To Man. He directed The Seer by Ali Smith for Dogstar in spring 2006.

Full tour listings

SEPTEMBER
27 Strathpeffer - Strathpeffer Pavilion 8.00pm 01997 420124 £10/£7
28 Plockton Village Hall 8.00pm 01599 534702 £7/£2
29 Arisaig - Astley Hall 8.00pm 01687 450263 £7/£5
30 Strontian - Arainn Shuaineirt (Sunart Centre) 8.00pm 01397 709228 £8/£6
www.sunartcentre.org  
OCTOBER
4 Lochinver Village Hall 8.00pm 01571 844262 £6/£5
5 Stornoway - An Lanntair 8.00pm 01851 703307 £8/£7/£6
7 St John’s Town of Dalry – High School 7.30pm 01644 420374 £7/£
8 Glasgow - Gilmorehill G12 4.00pm
8.00pm 0141 330 5522 £8/£6
boxoffice@gilmorehillg12.co.uk  
9 Kirkpatrick Durham Hall 8.00pm 01387 253383 £7/£5
11 Rosehall Village Hall 8.00pm Tickets on the door £7/£5
12 Lyth Arts Centre 8.00pm 01955 641270 £10/£8/£6
www.lytharts.org.uk  
13&14 Inverness - Spectrum Centre 8.00pm 01463 234234 £10/£8
www.eden-court.co.uk