Playwright launches appeal to find performers

Dec 2 2010 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A PLAYWRIGHT has launched an appeal to find talented West Lothian performers to star in a stunning new Scottish musical.

‘MacPherson’s Rant’ was written and produced by one of West Lothian’s most talented musicians and actors, John Ward.

The show had its world premiere in October 2009 as part of Scotland’s Homecoming Year.

And now the Bathgate playwright has licensed Livingston Players to be the first amateur company to perform the show at Howden Park in May.

The company is holding a read-through on Sunday, December 5 at 2pm in Carmondean Community Hall before auditions on Thursday, December 9 at the same venue at 7pm.

And John wants the cream of West Lothian’s talent to come along and try out for a part in his historical Scottish musical.

John said: “They are looking for new members to put on the performance in May.

“At the read through next Sunday people can come along and see the script and learn the songs. Hopefully we get a lot then coming to the auditions on Thursday.

“Livingston Players will be the first company to put it on but I hope they are just the first of many. Most towns up and down the country have good theatre groups or musical societies that could perform it.

“I have been in a couple of Livingston Players’ shows and have done bits and pieces with them but it was totally their choice to pick MacPhersons Rant.

“As I am a West Lothian man I am very keen for the show to be successful here and can’t wait to watch it. I was quite involved in the production of the premiere so it’ll be quite strange seeing it done in a totally different way.

“I just want to encourage people to come along and try out. There is a lot of talent in West Lothian. It has quite a big cast so there is a need for a lot of people in the performance.

“If you got any kind of ability, whether it is singing, dancing or musical, then there is something for you to do in the play.”

The musical takes place in Banffshire in the late 17th century and is set against the backdrop of the Jacobite Rebellion.

It tells the story of James MacPherson who was hung in Banff for being a gypsy and who smashed his fiddle on the gallows tree as he sung MacPherson Lament, a well-known and much loved song.

The show combines the best in Scottish drum and pipe music with Celtic roots music to create startling new versions of classic Scottish folk songs as well as featuring original musical compositions and songs.

“It’s based on historical facts so the basic story was there and I just had to write the characters round it,” said John, who runs Fasteq Limited in Linlithgow.

“I run a full-time business so it was just a hobby for me. It took the best part of a year to write it and probably another six months to make changes so it made sense and read properly.

“When the show had its premiere in Edinburgh last year the show was very well received and we had Lord MacPherson and 63 members of the MacPherson Clan at the final performance.

“They brought artifacts relating to the story from the Clan’s museum and were hugely complimentary about the production.

“That was a great confidence booster and I hope I get good feedback from the Livingston production.

“I have been interested in music and playing in bands for a long time but a few years ago I got roped into performing.

“However I enjoy the musical part of it more rather than being on stage. I like to be in the shadows rather than the spotlight.”

For more information on the musical and the auditions see www.macphersonsrant.com or www.livingstonplayers.org.uk.