AN old Scottish fairytale will be performed by Scottish Youth Theatre at an event to commemorate the the 325th Battle of Killiecrankie – the first Jacobite uprising where 2,000 Highland soldiers defeated 4,000 Government troops under the control of King William of Orange in 1689.
Begins a spokesperson: “Family Storytime, Scottish Youth Theatre’s popular interactive storytelling sessions for three-seven year-olds and the whole family, will perform ‘Rashiecoats’ about a bold and bonnie Scottish Princess called Heather, similar to Cinderella.
“But that’s where the similarities to Cinderella end! There are no glass slippers, no pumpkin coaches and no fairy godmother! Heather is a fearless and feisty Princess.
“She loves to be free and run barefoot through the Highland hills. However, her father, the King, wants her to marry for land, not love and there the big kerfuffle begins.
“She tries hard to explain true love but the King will not listen and one dark night, as the rain belts down, she runs away from her Castle home.
“Disguised as a kitchen maid she finds work in the kitchen of a neighbouring castle.
“Never does Heather think that true love is close by until the night of the ceilidh.”
The Rashiecoats performance will take place on Sunday 27 July at 1pm and 3pm at the Battle of Killiekrankie Remembered, in Perthshire.
The weekend of events will include Bonnie Dundee’s Cavalry, Government and Jacobite battle displays plus Battlefield tours, on the original battlefield, by the recently formed Soldiers of Killiekrankie Group.
There will also be a Jacobite storyteller, Highland folk music, traditional Ceilidh with people taking a turn on the Saturday night and lots of stalls selling traditional arts and crafts.
James Rattray, chair of Soldiers of Killiecrankie Group, at Explore Scotland, who is organising the anniversary event, said:
“We are delighted that the Scottish Youth Theatre is coming to perform at the 2014 Soldiers of Killiecrankie event. Scottish Youth Theatre brings something very special to our event. I know the youngsters from Highland Perthshire are very much looking forward to seeing the performance of Rashiecoats.”
Karen McGrady-Parker, associate director (Early Years) at Scottish Youth Theatre, said:
“The actors are gearing up for a busy Summer and are looking forward to sharing a Scots tale in a time when the spotlight is definitely on our homeland.
“Family Storytime is about bringing the audience on the journey with our actors to let wee ones experience the story.
“Children as young as three, get to participate in the performance alongside the actors so they become part of the story.
“When I was looking for ideas for Family Storytime I found an old book of Scottish fairytales. As soon as I read Rashiecoats I knew that children would love it. It’s seems particularly relevant to perform it at the anniversary of a Jacobite battle as Princess Heather is a fearless character who knows exactly what she wants from life.”
Throughout June, July and August, Family Storytime will be touring Scotland with Rashiecoats at Killearn Village Hall, Stirlingshire; Eastwood Theatre, Arc Resource Centre, Barrhead; Glasgow Green, as part of Commonwealth Family Zone; Aboyne Theatre, Aberdeenshire, Woodend Barn, Banchory and Killiecrankie.
For more information about the Battle of Killiecrankie Remembered go to http://www.highlandperthshire.com/things-to-do/major-events/soldiers-of-killiecrankie.aspx
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- Scottish Youth Theatre, Scotland’s national theatre ‘for & by’ young people, established in 1976, delivers theatre arts to young people all around Scotland all year round.
- Scottish Youth Theatre offers a varied annual programme of quality theatre arts experiences all around Scotland, all year round. Full info on all Scottish Youth Theatre events, performances and activities are available by visiting www.scottishyouththeatre.org or by calling 0141 552 3988.
- Scottish Youth Theatre alumni include Gerard Butler (300), Karen Gillan (Dr. Who) and KT Tunstall (Eye to the Telescope, Drastic Fantastic), Iain De Caestecker (Marvel’s Agents of Shield), Douglas Henshall (Shetland, Primeval) and Kirstie Steele (Waterloo Road).
- Scottish Youth Theatre is a registered charity, Scottish Charity Number SC014283.
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Contact: Kyriakos Vogiatzis
Phone: 0141 552 3988
Email: kyriakos@scottishyouththeatre.org
Website: http://www.scottishyouththeatre.org/
