To mark the Highland Year of Culture and the arrival of the Moray Firth Flotilla, Buckie Festival 2007, led by Theatre Modo, creates a spectacular celebration of the culture and community of Buckie and the surrounding areas.
On 28th June 2007, the streets of Buckie will be host to a thrilling promenade performance involving over 500 people from some 45 different groups from throughout the region. A spectacular outdoor extravaganza of music, dancing and performance builds up to a huge firework finale and the welcoming of the flotilla. Fire-breathing sea monsters, giant puppets, a flotilla of historic boats, a silver band, skate boarders, motorcyclists, belly dancers, cheerleaders, fire sculptures, carnival structures, pipe bands, Highland dancing and fireworks at the shore all come together to celebrate the culture and talent of the community.
Drawing from local myths and legends, the show follows the Burry Man and his followers as he meets a host of bizarre and magical characters on his way to battle the evil fire-breathing sea monster, the Cockie Coo.
Bringing together over five hundred performers, musicians, dancers and makers, the show, entirely performed and staged by local participants marches in colourful procession through the streets and squares of Buckie. Around every corner a new segment of the adventure unfolds.
Finally, the procession, now swelled to its full numbers, reaches the shore, where the sea monster is defeated in a spectacular fire works display, and the triumphant flotilla is welcomed into Buckie with a huge dance of celebration.
Buckie Festival 2007 brings together hundreds of people from all areas of the community to pool their talents and resources with a professional team to create a rare and memorable event unique in its scope and undertaking.
Groups are working with professionals from Theatre Modo, learning new skills and experiences.
Dance groups have been learning new styles of dance, youth groups have been learning how to stilt walk or to perform fire routines, primary schools have become drumming bands or circus troupes, while others have built puppets, made hats and costumes.
Buckie Festival 2007 is led by Theatre Modo, an award winning Scottish company, formed to bring to life the magic of theatre. Theatre Modo prides itself on shows that celebrate theatre at its best, engaging, inspiring and entertaining its audiences. Theatre Modo specialises in largescale outdoor spectacles using fire, circus, theatre, dance and music to create a highly visual style of production.
The team of directors, designers, choreographers and musicians assembled by Theatre Modo for Buckie Festival 2007 brings years of experience at creating exciting and striking spectacles and outdoor performances throughout Scotland and beyond.
Past projects staged by Theatre Modo and director Martin Danziger include Assipattle in Wick in 2003, Govan Gathering Light in 2004-5, the pan-Highland Millennium Project pH2000, and Carmen and the Burning Knight for the Northlands Festival in 1998. Theatre Modo has also been seen in Moray and beyond with their touring productions of Don Quixote, the Snow Queen and Ubu.
Buckie Festival was set up in 2003 to develop arts, leisure and cultural activity in Buckie and the surrounding area and aims to celebrate and encourage interest in the area’s environment, heritage and people. Each year since 2003 the committee has run a week long festival featuring theatre, comedy, parades, music and dance and has featured some of the nation’s finest performers.
After taking a break from its usual format in 2006 the festival is back with a bang to celebrate the year of Highland Culture. Theatre Modo have been commissioned by the Buckie Festival committee to stage this year’s event based on their outstanding reputation for working alongside communities in the development and staging of large-scale celebratory events.
The Moray Firth Flotilla 2007 is a unique and exciting project that will see a flotilla of traditional boats sail around the coast from Wick, calling at a number of ports over the course of a week, starting at Wick on 23rd June and ending at Portsoy to mark the opening of the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival on 29th June 2007.
Over 30 boats from around the Firth and beyond are taking part. These include well known boats such “the Reaper” from Anstruther, “The Swan” from Lerwick and the “Isabella Fortuna” from Wick.
Highland 2007 celebrations continue on the 29th with Fish and Ships Fiesta 5.00pm – 8.00pm on Friday 29th June at the harbour…mair fish, fun, fiesta for all the family.
Visit website for more details www.buckiefestival.co.uk
