At 7.30pm on Friday the 8th of December, 2006, in Dunbeath Village Hall Grey Coast Theatre Company present the second part of “BUTCHER’S BROOM”, their ambitious dramatisation of Neil Gunn’s 1934 novel.

With lyrics by George Gunn and music by Andy Thorburn (of Blazing Fiddles fame), directed by Louise Allan (last seen in her native Caithness with Theatre Modo) and performed by 49 Primary Six and Seven children from Dunbeath and Lybster Primary Schools, “BUTCHER’S BROOM” is faithful to Neil Gunn’s poetic yet tragic tale of the violent social and human reorganisation which occurred in west Caithness and all over Sutherland at the beginning of the 19th century. The social and geographical scars left by The Highland Clearances are still to be seen on the hillsides and in the songs and literature of the people.

Yet Grey Coast’s latest project is no sad reflection upon an historic injustice. “BUTCHER’S BROOM” is a musical celebration of the spirit and determination of the people of Caithness and Sutherland and of how - no matter what happened to them - they endured and displayed a love of, and a lust for, life.

George Gunn, Artistic Director of Grey Coast Theatre Company, insists that “Working with the children it is impossible not to be uplifted so the songs that Andy Thorburn and I have written reflect that. What we learn from them, and this is true with all the children’s theatre we have produced over the years, is that the joy of life is always at the centre of art. What the bairns learn from us is some of their own history and some of the necessary theatre techniques they need to present that story. Grey Coast Theatre Company belongs to the children of Lybster and Dunbeath as much as it does to me and Andy and to Louise Allan who is directing the piece. I urge everyone in Caithness to come and see “BUTCHER’S BROOM” because they will witness something special and, even though it is a work in progress, they will see a part of their own story brought to life by their own children. A lot of the novel is seen through the eyes of children and I am sure Neil Gunn would have approved.”

“BUTCHER’S BROOM” is made possible by funding from Highland 2007 and CASE. Last year Grey Coast presented a series of poems written by some of the children in this year’s production at the “Light In The North Festival” which is a celebration of the work of Dunbeath’s very own Neil Gunn. Next year, as the company’s contribution to Highland 2007, The Scottish Year of Highland Culture, Grey Coast will mount a much larger and more ambitious production. This will be one of the highlights of the Highland 2007 programme.

BUTCHER’S BROOM is a project born out of a unique contribution between the Dunbeath Heritage Trust, the “Light in the North Festival”, CASE and The Highland Council.

Christine Russell, the Cultural Co-ordinator for Schools for the Caithness Area of Highland Council sees the project as important. “BUTCHER’S BROOM fulfils many of categories outlined in the Expressive Arts document which teachers are expected to address in the curriculum. Reading, Writing, Singing, Music, Movement, Personal & Social Development, Public Performance – all these are important areas of a child’s educational development and all are catered for through the medium of theatre. We need more projects like these in our schools. Primary school teachers have a very demanding range of skills they’re expected to deliver, often without much support. Projects like this, and a Music project I did recently with the Edinburgh Quartet, are brilliant models of how professional artists can help teachers do their job.”

The performance of “BUTCHER’S BROOM” on Friday 8th in Dunbeath Village Hall at 7.30 is free but to avoid disappointment phone the two schools Lybster 01593 721224 or 01593 731286. The event is free but Grey Coast Theatre Company is asking for donations at the door.