Showing @ Brunton Theatre, Musseburgh Thur 3rd March @ 19:30, see full listings below
Smartphones are the new Filofax. We can set reminders and alarms; have our whole schedules at the touch of a, well, screen. Our relationship with time has altered since the introduction of such devices to mainstream culture. As a result, that which we cannot rationalise, we are increasingly attempting to reify. Dogstar’s latest piece, Sweetness, is set to remind us that “time doesn’t progress; it doesn’t have movement forwards, backwards, beginning, middle or end”.
Sweetness is the first adaptation of a novel Dogstar have produced. Kevin MacNeil has transposed Torgny Lindgren’s novel from Northern Sweden to the North of Scotland where two brothers, Archie (Matthew Zajac) and Murdo (Sean Hay) live in mutual loathing, on opposite sides of a field. When writer Kate (Lynne Verral) arrives, she becomes fascinated by the accumulation of lies and deceit that have divided the brothers.
Director Matthew Zajac comments, “Sweetness comes from peasant culture, hard existence. There’s something fundamental about their connection with the land. There is no longer peasantry in Western culture. Audiences will understand, but might find bits challenging.” As organic as the themes are in Sweetness, there is a similar level in the work ethic of the company: they focus greatly on storytelling and exploring how humans interact. They do not prescribe issues or stories to the work, but respond to writers. Zajac explains: “art is a humanising force. It is communication and having the audience share a good night in the theatre, which for Dogstar means sending them away with something new. We’re about finding connections.” Doubtless as the characters make connections of their own, the audience will too. How time is portrayed in MacNeil’s play reflects the changes in Western culture and how we use time now. Between calendars and apps, we can prepare in advance for every eventuality, but “when anything happens, when it really happens, it happens fast.” Even your BlackBerry will struggle to keep up.
Listings:
Venue: An Lanntair, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
Dates & Times: Thursday 24 & Friday 25 February 8.00pm
Box Office: 01851 703307 Tickets: £10 online
Venue: Sabhal Mor Ostaig, Skye
Date & Time: Saturday 26 February 7.30pm
Bookings: 01471 844201 Tickets: £10 & concessions
Venue: Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh
Date & Time: Thursday 3 March 7.30pm
Box Office: 0131 665 2240 Tickets: £11/£9 & £6 under18s
Venue: North Edinburgh Arts Centre
Date & Time: Friday 4 March 7.00pm
Box Office: 0131 315 2151 Tickets: £7/ £3.50 for members
Venue: Gairloch Village Hall
Date & Time: Tuesday 8 March 7.30pm
Bookings: 01445 781783 Tickets: £8/£6
Venue: Macphail Centre, Ullapool
Date & Time: Thursday 10 March 7.30pm
Box Office: 01854 613336 Tickets: £7/£5
Venue: Farr High School, Bettyhill
Date & Time: Friday 11 March 1.30pm
Bookings: through school. Ticket prices tbc
Venue: Mill Theatre, Thurso
Date & Time: Saturday 12 March 7.30pm
Bookings: 01847 896508 Tickets: £8/£6
Venue: Woodend Barn, Banchory
Date & Time: Thursday 17 March 7.30pm
Box Office: 01330 825431
Tickets: £9/£7 under 16s £5 in advance. £10/£8/£8/£6 on the door
Venue: Grassic Gibbon Centre, Arbuthnott
Date & Time: Friday 18 March 7.30pm
Box Office: 01561 361668 Tickets: £8
Venue: Tower Mill, Heart of Hawick
Date & Time: Saturday 19 March 7.30pm
Box Office: 01450 360688 Tickets: £10/£8
Venue: Raasay Community Hall, Isle of Raasay
Date & Time: Monday 21 March (time tbc)
Bookings 01478 660345: Tickets on the door Tickets: prices tbc
Venue: Lochinver Village Hall
Date & Time: Tuesday 22 March 7.30pm
Bookings: 01571 844104 Tickets: tbc
Venue: Eden Court, Inverness
Dates & Times: Wednesday 23 & Thursday 24 March 8.00pm
Box Office: 01463 234234
Tickets: £12/£10, + £2 friends concession
Venue: Lonach Hall, Strathdon
Date & Time: Saturday 26 March 7.30pm
Bookings: 01975 651779 Tickets: £8/£6