Fringe show appeal Shonagh plans Edinburgh dates for work
A talented Larkhall musical director is looking for help in taking her latest piece to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Shonagh Murray, of Ashgill, recently graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with a Masters in Musical Directing.
This August the former Larkhall Academy pupil will, under the umbrella of the Fearless Players Theatre Company, premier a new piece at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Entitled ‘Armour: A Herstory of the Scottish Bard,’ the piece looks at what a widow and a mistress discuss over tea.
Jean Armour, wife of Robert Burns, and Nancy Maclehose, mistress of the poet, are both responsible for inspiring some of Burns’ most famous works, with timeless verses of ‘My Love is Like A Red, Red Rose’ and ‘Ae Fond Kiss’ being dedicated to them.
It takes several decades and the death of their beloved to motivate such an idea, but Jean and Nancy decide to meet ‘the other woman’.
Using the well known music of Robert Burns woven in with original composition, Armour gives a long overdue voice to the women behind the famous bard and will answer the question ‘what do a widow and a mistress discuss over tea?’
Shonagh, who also teaches new musical development at the Junior Conservatoire at the weekends, composed a musical for the Edinburgh Fringe in 2015 which was shortlisted for Musical Theatre Network’s Development Award.
Now she hopes she can bring her latest show to Fringe audiences this summer.
Shonagh said: “Fearless Players are a female-led theatre company who are dedicated to promoting the work of brilliant female creatives.
“With an all-female cast and creative team, we feel Armour is a vital story in the year of empowering women to use their voices, especially as International Women’s Day was March 8, the day of our crowdfunding launch.
“Armour is a story deeply invested in Scottish heritage and culture, with a point of view that has rarely been explored. This makes Armour a show not to be missed.
“Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the biggest arts festival in the world. It is the place to be to premiere new work.
“The downside is it’s expensive! We have to pay for The Venue (Spaceuk @ Jury’s), Edinburgh Fringe Society fee, printing for poster and flyers, designers for poster and flyers, a website, insurance, accommodation, travel. The list goes on.
“We need you to help us if we’re going to get to Fringe in one piece!
“We’ll be doing a lot of fundraising between now and August to make this happen, but it’s worth it to bring the work of incredible British female creatives to the biggest arts market in the world.
“And if you like the sound of the show, please consider visiting our crowdfunding website and donating to help get Armour to the Fringe!”
Visit www.crowdfunder. co.uk/armourmusical to show your support for the production.
The show is expected to run at The Venue (Spaceuk @ Jury’s) from August 3.