A joyful exploration of Scotland’s 19th century Highland and Island lost spiritual landscapes, with Bharatanatyam dance, oral storytelling, traditional Celtic and Carnatic music and song from internationally acclaimed dancer Kirsten Newell and collaborators (2 - 22 September 2024, various locations across Scotland)
Bharatanatyam dancer and lead artist Kirsten Newell has announced the anticipated return and Scottish tour of John Philip Newell’s captivating storytelling, dance, and music show Hebridean Treasure: Lost & Found.
Touring from 2 - 22 September across Aberdeenshire; Banchory; Skye; Mull; Iona; Harris; Stornoway; Oban and Findhorn, Hebridean Treasure blends Scottish and South Asian music and theatre with skilled Bharatanatyam dance from internationally acclaimed dancer Kirsten Newell to tell a universal and poignant story of suffering, exile, and the loss of age-old wisdom, set against the historic spiritual background of nineteenth century Scottish Isles and Gaelic pasts told through prayer and poem.
Originally inspired by The Wooster Group’s acclaimed 2014 piece Early Shaker Spirituals and Alexander Carmichael’s (1832-1912) work ‘Carmina Gadelica’, Celtic scholar and author John Philip Newell’s writing meshes with critically-acclaimed composer and Gaelic singer Mischa Macpherson’s (Winner of BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award, MG Alba Scots Trad Music Award) music and Bharatanatyam dancer Kirsten Newell’s (Kalakshetra Foundation, ATMA Dance Company, Cosmic Dance) soulful, sweeping dance performance to bring audiences a message of hope: a new way of life that cherishes and recaptures our Celtic and Gaelic cultural heritage.
Kirsten Newell said: ‘Hebridean Treasure: Lost & Found’ has really touched my soul; I have felt deeply connected to the prayers and poems of the western isles, which have long-reminded me of India’s sense of the sacred. It is a powerful story of suffering, but with an ending that holds seeds of hope for a new way of seeing in Celtic spirituality for today. It is a joy to take this production to Gaelic speaking Hebridean islands, where the story belongs, and to collaborate with such incredible musicians and artists throughout.’
Writer John Philip Newell said: 'In dance, music, song, and story, this production offers a spiritual vision of Earth that can be part of our healing today.'
Weaving in and out of a complex tapestry of ancestral grief, Hebridean Treasure: Lost & Found draws comparisons between the ancient Vedic and Celtic cultures through songs in Gaelic, Tamil and Hindi, and the combination of Celtic and Carnatic music, to reflect on the relationships with and similarities between social and folk customs, mythology and traditional musical form.
Past praise for Hebridean Treasure: Lost & Found
‘ a captivating and compelling history lesson.’ - The Stage ★★★★
‘Finding the lost soul of Scotland and humanity’ -The List
‘Hebridean Treasure is a moving meditation on Celtic spirituality – both dance and poem; lament and love song; prayer and blessing’ -Magdalen Gorringe, Pulse Connects
Hebridean Treasure: Lost & Found 2024 tour has been made possible through the generous support of Creative Scotland's Touring Fund for Theatre and Dance. Supported by Earth & Soul. Produced by Vision Mechanics.
Cast & Creative Team
Dancer/Lead Artist - Kirsten Newell
Storytellers - Billy Mack, Alison Newell, Iain Louden
Writer - John Philip Newell
Musical Director - Mischa Macpherson
Artistic Director and Choreography- Shane Shambhu
Dancer’s Costume - Alison Brown
Produced by - Vision Mechanics
Musicians
Mischa Macpherson (vocals)
Ankna Arokiam (Indian vocals)
Hardeep Deerhe (tabla)
Alastair Paterson (harmonium)
Charlie Stewart (fiddle)
Cameron Newell (fiddle)
Social Media
Website: kirstennewell.com| Trailer
Instagram: @hebrideantreasure
Twitter (X): @HebrideanTreas
Listings:
Tuesday 3 September - Aberdeen
7pm @ The Lemon Tree
Wednesday 4 September - Aberdeen
7.30pm @ Phoenix Centre, Newton Dee
Thursday 5 September - Banchory
7.30pm @ The Barn
Friday 6 September - Alford
7.30pm @ Tullynessle & Forbes Hall
Saturday 7 September - Inch
7.30pm @ Bennachie Leisure Centre
Tuesday 10 September - Skye
7pm @ Sabhal Mor Ostaig
Wednesday 11 September - Skye
7pm @ Skye Gathering Hall
Friday 13 September - Isle of Harris
7.30pm @ Talla Na Mara Hall
Saturday 14 September - Stornoway
8pm @ An Lanntair
Tuesday 17 September - Oban
7.30pm @ Corran Halls
Wednesday 18 September - Isle of Iona
7.30pm @ Iona Village Hall
Thursday 19 September - Mull
7.30pm @ An Tobar/Mull Theatre
Saturday 21 September - Findhorn
4pm @ Universal Hall
0 Comments