Rowan Tree Theatre Company presents
The Ragged Lion by Allan Massie
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| Crawford Logan plays Sir Walter Scott |
Sir Walter Scott is Scotland’s forgotten Homecoming icon - but not forgotten in his Border country.
Touring southern Scotland from Saturday 19th September to Saturday 25th October, the CATS Award winner Rowan Tree Theatre Company performs Allan Massie’s The Ragged Lion: the lost and last memoir of a great Scot and Borderer, whose stories told a nation and a world what home means.
Now meet Sir Walter Scott telling his own story. A financial crash in the City of London has felled eminent men, and impoverished the English-speaking world’s first best-selling novelist. Scotland’s lion of literature lies ragged, and the Border Sheriff has been spun around to face judgement himself.
In the solitude of his study, facing a lifetime of toil to repay his debts, he wrestles with the ghosts and demons of his and his country’s past. He stands on the cusp of the old and the new: he cannot know what his legacy will be. Scott once reflected Scotland’s life in his stories. Now our lives are reflected in his.
Through this intimate and insightful portrait, played by Crawford Logan, directed by AC Wilson, and drawn by Massie’s deep knowledge and love of Scott, we come to understand the private character behind the popular image: the mind of the greatest imaginative genius of his time.
Crawford Logan has huge experience in theatre in both Scotland and England, including Pitlochry, Borderline, Stellar Quines, the Royal Lyceum and Oran Mor. His TV experience includes Dr Who and Eastenders. He has many radio performances to his credit, including the name part in the Paul Temple Mysteries, while fans of the Archers will recognise his voice as that of Ambridge’s doctor, Matthew Thoroughgood.
Director AC Wilson, now based in London, has had associations with Rowan Tree over many years. He is a double Fringe First winner and was co-director of The Unconquered, which in 2007 won the coveted CATS award for the best new play in Scotland.
With set and costume design by Jessica Brettle, lighting by Andrew Wilson, and soundscape by Shona Mooney and Elspeth Smellie, The Ragged Lion is coming soon to venues across the Borders, Dumfries & Galloway, Lanarkshire, Lothian and Northumberland.
