A storm is brewing in a small fishing village. A young woman returns home, searching for answers about her father’s death. But as she begins to weave together the strands of her past, a mysterious force unravels family secrets. Lost at Sea journeys through a labyrinth of myth and memory in an epic tale spanning forty years of the fishing industry. Featuring the voices of fishermen and their families in their own words – with music, songs and Scots language – it is the lyrical and powerfully evocative story of a North-East fishing family. Inspired by the loss of playwright Morna Young’s fisherman father, Lost at Sea is a personal tribute to the fishing communities of Scotland.
Directed by Ian Brown (formerly Artistic Director of Traverse and West Yorkshire Playhouse), the all-Scottish cast of well-known faces included Tam Dean Burn (Outlaw King, River City, Moon Dogs) at the helm as the Skipper, Gerry Mulgrew as Billy, Kim Gerard as Eve, Ali Craig as Jock, Helen McAlpine as Kath, Andy Clark as Kevin and Jennifer Black as Meg. Thoren Ferguson from Scottish band The Jacobites joined the company as Mate/Musician and Sophia McLean played Shona in her first major Scottish role.
The award-winning creative team included Composer Pippa Murphy and Designer Karen Tennent. Completing the creative company were Lighting Designer Katharine Williams, Jim Manganello as Movement Director and Associate Director Rosa Duncan.
Lost at Sea premiered at Perth Theatre – Horsecross on 27th April 2019 before touring to: Dundee Rep Theatre | His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen | Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock | Eden Court, Inverness | Kings Theatre, Edinburgh | D&G Arts Festival, Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries.
Traditional songs and music, composed by Pippa Murphy, and performed by musician Thoren Ferguson and the ensemble, bring added poignancy to a story that is both of its time and timeless.
Alan Radcliffe – The Times
