Home | Productions | Living Memo

The Guid Doctor

Elaine Campbell's 'The Guid Doctor', directed by Mark Kydd, told the little-known story of 19th century medical pioneer Thomas Latta who developed the intravenous drip for cholera sufferers. Cast: Nick Cheales, Jonathan Durie, Derek McGhie, Andrea MacKenzie

Nicky Stones' photo of the cast of Elaine Campbell's The Guid Doctor

Leith Docks: A Way of Life

'Leith Docks, A Way of Life' by Laure Paterson, directed by Liz Hare, was based on memories of retired dockers and residents. Cast: Helen Cuinn, Gregor Davidson, Mark Kydd, Derek McGhie. The Living Memory Association commissioned an extra performance of Laure's play to open their

new base in Ocean Terminal. This gained a 4-star review from TV Bomb's Rob Peacock.

A tvbomb four star review by Robert Peacock of Leith Docks: A Way of Life ( 1 July 2016) focussing on the writing, the music, the performances and the play's evocation of the sixties in Leith. Follow Review link for more..........

http://www.tvbomb.co.uk/review/leith-docks-a-way-of-life/

Eric Robinson's photo of Gregor Davidson

as Pierre, the Ingan Johnnie in Leith Docks,

A Way of Life by Laure Paterson

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Laure's play 'Leith Docks - A Way of Life' was based on living memories of people who shared their stories of the docks and Ingsn Johnnies.

Alan Thomson's photo of Jennie Smith, whose memories of the Ingan Johnnies helped inspire Laure's play about Leith Docks.

The 'Guid Doctor' was developed was developed from a reading in Ocean Terminal for an audience of local penshioners and Trinity Academy pupils.

Eric, Nicky and Andy were members of the Photography Project, 'Face to Face with Leith', led by Kat Gollock. This was sponsored by Foundation Scotland..

The Story of Leith was a historical soundscape walk around Leith.

Through the use of binaural audio recording the walkers to experience an immersive audio experience of Leith's historic events. The scenes on the walk were researched and scripted by members of the WEA Playwrights Workshop led by Liz Hare. Voices: Mark Kydd, Helen Cuinn, Greg Davidson, Rob Flett, Derek McGhie and Andrea McKenzie.

Mary Moriarty enjoys the soundscape on Leith Links with

two of the playwrights who scripted The Story of Leith

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2015

LEITH FESTIVAL - 2015

When the War Came Home

Euan Bennet and Mark Kydd

Andrea MacKenzie as a grieving Leith mother

whose son died in the Gretna Train Disaster.

Reviews of "When the War Came Home"

Paul F Cockburn’s Broadway Baby Review of Citadel’s Leith Festival production of ‘When the War Came Home’ in Leith Dockers Club, Sun 21^st June

It’s not often that I’m asked back to see a show, let alone because those involved have openly taken on some of the points I made in my review!

I’m pleased to report that this totally revised version (which comes in at just under an hour – or less than the original production’s first half!) is now a narratively sharp, emotionally impactful drama which touches hearts and minds through its simple, yet effective use of music, song and reportage.

When the War Came Home is a joint project by Edinburgh’s Citadel Arts Group and the WEA Playwrights Workshop, looking at how the realities of the First World War eventually “came home” to the people of Edinburgh and Leith – through the deaths of fathers and sons, the return of physically and psychologically-wounded soldiers, and the bombs dropped on the city from a singular German Zeppelin. The revised script offers a clear emotional continuity between the different women excellently portrayed by Andrea McKenzie. Rob Flett and Mark Kydd, meantime, remain the strong pillars of this small ensemble, embodying both the bravado and fear of men going to war. And Euan Bennet still impresses with his vocal and physical versatility, whether as none-too-bright newspaper seller Norrie or war poet Wilfred Owen.

Regularly punctuated with period songs which are used to cutting effect. . . . I have to admit that John Lamb’s re-telling of the Zeppelin raid on Leith and Edinburgh now works perfectly as the dramatic core of the piece – the night, indeed, when “the War Came Home to us all”.

It’s not often that I’m asked to give a show a second chance; it’s even rarer to see my concerns addressed and acted upon so diligently and effectively. The result is that the show’s obvious potential has been fantastically realised; I couldn’t be more pleased, and just hope that this won’t be its final run!

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TV Bomb

Weaving poignant local vignettes into the horrific wider global context of the First World War, When The War Came Home, directed by Liz Hare, is a timely and moving depiction of the havoc wreaked by the Great War on the ordinary people of Edinburgh.

It’s an ambitious and tricky production for small local company Citadel Arts Group to undertake, as action skips from families at home to soldiers abroad and back again in breathless fashion. One minute we’re in the office of (fictional) Evening News editor Iain Sutherland, the next in the Sarajevo where Gavrilo Princip is pledging an oath to South Slav nationalism before assassinating Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Another blink of an eye takes us to the Morningside parlour of a middle-aged couple whose son has just signed up for the Territorials. The cast of four are to be applauded just for the speed of costume changes and array of different voices paraded.

We gain an impressionistic vision of life in wartime. Even those with a thorough knowledge of the War will marvel at the research that has been conducted and may even learn a thing or two. There’s detail about the 1916 Zeppelin raid on Edinburgh, the conscription rally by Sir George McRae in the Usher Hall, the pressure put on Hearts fans and players to sign up, all rendered with loving attention to period costume and props.

What is more, all of this is set along national issues to help make the general personal. Most emotionally, we observe MPs debating in the Commons about the age of conscription, then see the effects of shell-shock on an under-age soldier, who only weeks before was an energetic newspaper-seller on George IV Bridge.

The play’s chief appeal may be documentary rather than dramatic, but it’s none the worse for that, and it’s an impressive piece of work that fully justifies the contributions made by the community involved.

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2014

A Night at the Pictures

'A Night at the Pictures' by Cecilia Rose, directed by Karen Douglas - based on memories of the Loanhead Cinema in the 1950's. Laverne Edwards as the formidable chanteuse Mrs Brodie did not please Jimmy (Mark Kydd) and Gordon (Rob Flett). But she delighted an audience of older people in Dalkeith Welfare Hall on 12 March.

Jimmy (Mark Kydd), Mrs Brodie (Laverne Edwards) and Gordon (Rob Flett

Leith at War

The cast of "Leith at War" is Mark Kydd, Rob Flett, Angus Skakle, Andrea McKenzie.

Leith at War' played to capacity audiences in Leith Hub. Thanks to our sponsors, Leith Benevolent Association, Foundation Scotland and especially Awards for All who supported the popular photo exhibition of Leith and Edinburgh at War, seen by around 120 people as well as the 250 people, mainly Leithers, who came to the show.

Reviews

Rob Peacock wrote for TV Bomb:

‘a well-prepared period set. . . Leith At War deftly weaves this fictional family into real events, like the bombing of the HMS Southampton at anchor in Rosyth. . . Young Eck is expertly played by Angus Skakle, who delivers cheekiness, comedy and childish tantrums with confidence and charm. There are solid performances from the other cast members too – Andrea McKenzie as Frankie, Mark Kydd as the grandad and Rob Flett as the dashing American who Frankie inevitably falls for.The period cultural references in Liz Hare’s production – Frankie’s crush on Clark Gable – are well thought out and judiciously employed. For locals of a certain vintage, there are also knowing Edinburgh references, like Frankie’s insistence she won’t end up at Duncan’s making Walnut Whips. The use of Scots dialect is laudable too.’

Jessica Innes in Broadway Baby:

Citadel Arts Group builds on emotions of torment of searching for family members and serving your country.Overall, the cast were incredibly strong, each bringing a sparkle to their characters. Andrea McKenzie as Frances shows the character’s maturing journey most clearly through two contrastingly performed letters written to her mother. . . .McKenzie also has a stunning singing voice that tugged at our heart strings.

Audience members of a certain age could be heard humming to the war songs during scene changes; and the nostalgia was palpable on occasions.’

Sponsors:

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2013

McScrooge in two Leith venues, Jamieson Place Sheltered Housing with an invited class from St Mary's Primary, and the Kirkgate Community Centre. Alan's take on a 'Christmas Carol' was a great success with young and old alike.

Poster Design: Anna Glantz

Robb Flett, played McCratchit, McMarley, all three ghosts and Moira McIntosh, Sarah Johnstone took on all the female roles and Mark Kydd as McScrooge.

Citadel presented a double bill of green plays at the Leith Festival in the Granary, Leith, 12 to 15th June, 2013

My Granny was a Rock Star written by Jim Brown and directed by Liz Hare, highlighted the importance of recycling and community responsibility.

The cast of Andrea McKenzie (wee Donny), Iona Soper (her big sister Sandy) and Corinne Harris (Kath, the former rock star) raised laughter and tears in this heart-warming play.

Junk Food Vampire written by Cecilia Rose and directed by Jemima Sinclair showed that good nourishing food might be the safest option! Four children are told to devise a play about healthy eating and all goes well until the masks that they wear start to take a life of their own.

The cast: Kiera Fitzgereald, Clare Hibbert, Dianielle McDougal and Angus Skakle, all in P7 at St Mary's Primary School, Leith.^ back to top

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2012

Litter Louts

November 2012, Citadel was commissioned to develop a campaigning play for environmental charity, Changeworks. Jim Brown’s hard-hitting play, ‘Litter Louts are Losers’ tells the sad story of huge islands of plastic litter in our oceans and how three teenagers decide to get involved.

In December 2012, the play successfully toured round five Edinburgh High Schools: Craigmount, Holyrood, Queensferry, Portobello and Leith Academy . It proved a hit with the S1 and 2 pupils, one of whom called it, ‘minted’!

People Making Waves, our funder, invited Citadel to the Scottish Parliament on 31^st Oct. We took part in a show case of the projects they funded, by staging the opening scenes of our Leith Hospital play by Laure C Paterson. Our cast of Nicky McCabe, Sharon Erskine and Stephanie Falls , alongside St Mary’s Primary pupils Danielle McDougall, Clare Hibbert, Kiera Fitzgerald and Angus Skakle, impressed an audience of MSPs and arts workers.

Leith's Hidden Treasure

Citadel’s Leith Hospital project at Leith Festival 2012 started on 11^th June with an afternoon showing of Stewart Emm’s popular documentary film about Leith Hospital . This was followed by Millie Gray’s poignant and hilarious stories about the hospital. A capacity audience packed Leith Granary to enjoy an hour of nostalgia and humour which earned a 4 star review from The Evening News.

14 – 16^TH June, ‘Leith’s Hidden Treasure’ by Laure C Paterson played to sell-out audiences in The Granary, on the Shore in Leith . The play was based on living memories of the old Leith Hospital which Citadel had collected in the popular book, ‘Leith Hospital Recalled’.

The Cast included Sharon Erskine, Torya Winters, Nicky McCabe, Mark Kydd and Caroline McKellar

Predominantly local audiences gave us excellent feedback: ‘Brought back many memories… great to see Leith ’s stories and history kept alive. . . a moving depiction of the importance of the hospital to the community. . . excellent acting and writing. . .I really liked the involvement of the children. . .brilliant to see the school pupils taking part.’

Mark Kydd, Sharon Erskine, Torya Winters and Nicky McCabe (Photo by Johm Brydon)

St Mary's pupils at rehearsal (Photo by Sigrid Neilson)

St Mary's pupils improvising their ideas for a play!

The Project brought together pupils from P6 of St Mary's Primary School and the residents of Jameson Place Sheltered Housing in Leith. Jemina Sinclair led two drama workshops in the school to involve the young people in script development, and to perform in the show.

Our funders are Leith Neighbourhood Partnership, People Making Waves Make a Splash! and The Cooperative Community Fund.^ back to top

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2011

Leith Lives


Karen Douglas and Nicky McCabe as Ma and wee Jimmy in Cecilia Rose’s Jimmy and the War	Gold Rush. Ma (Caroline McKellar) and Pa (Ian Watt listen while Annie ( Nicky McCabe) reads a letter that came all the way from Scotland !	Nicky McCabe as Annie in Gold Rush

Citadel Arts Group production for the Leith Festival, Edinburgh Theatre News

LEITH LIVES, was a triple bill of short plays, all inspired by different periods from the colourful history of Leith. The first piece, a new play, is Golden Leith or The Queen must Die by Alan Mountford. . The playwright takes Tom, the rough English soldier from last year’s 4-star Siege of Leith Show, and brings him back to Leith in quest of the treasure that obsesses him. But Tom finds something very different. The show was funded by the Scottish Community Foundation and The Brian Souter Foundation as well as by Groves-Raine Architects, who are restoring the historic Lamb’s House, where Mary briefly stayed when she first landed.

The other two Leith-based plays were the Gold Rush by Laure Paterson and Jimmy and the War by Cecilia Rose, both plays produced for the first time for a general audience.

Gold Rush takes a 19^th century Leith family across the ocean to seek their fortune in the California Gold Rush. Jimmy and the War gives audiences a humorous glimpse into life in Leith on the Home Front during the War. The plays were directed by Liz Hare and Mark Kydd.

Leith Lives is a triple bill of new short plays by members of the Workers’ Educational Association, presented as part of the Leith Festival. All three the plays have some connection to the area, as do most of the people involved.

Torya Winter and Elek Kish as Molly and Tom

Karen Douglas and Nicky McCabe as Ma and wee Jimmy

Caroline McKellar and Ian Watt

as Annie and Billy Mac

The Queen Must Die, by Alan Mountford, is set in 1561, with the arrival of Mary Stuart at the Port of Leith. It is an intense tale of witchcraft and politics, war and love. Liz Hare directs this and the second play of the evening, Laure C Paterson’s Gold Rush, which sees a Leith fisher family making the journey to California with the hope of striking it rich. Although the story is a little contrived, the characters are very lovable, and the audience ends up rooting for this family. Ian Watt plays Billy Mac, whose stories have always inspired his daughter, played by Nickly McCabe. For a short play, the company manages to tell quite a large story, and although it might have benefited from a longer slot in the programme, it does succeed in its present form.

The last play is called Jimmy and the War, and while Gold Rush creates the feeling it could expand into a longer piece, Jimmy and the War feels like part of something much bigger already. Cecilia Rose’s scene, directed by Mark Kydd, is set in Leith during World War II. Jimmy and his mum are doing their best to carry on while his father is away fighting. There is not a great deal of action in the scene, but the dialogue is deftly written.

Nicky McCabe as Jimmy is simply irresistible: a lively, enthusiastic little boy who is aware of the war but far more upset about having to do his homework. It would be a pity if Rose does not complete the story in a longer play.

This is a low-budget show, but all three the plays have the potential for bigger success.

Leith Festival: Theatre success for the Citadel, STV Local

The Citadel Arts Group, funded by the Scottish Community Foundation, performed a triple bill of new plays during the Leith Festival at Duncan Place Resource Centre.

"This show has been brilliantly produced by members of the WEA Playwright's Workshop. Each script is inspired by a different era in the colourful history of Leith, and without doubt, all of these three stage performances bring many of Leith's unique history alive.

The opening performance on Saturday, June 11 was really well received by an audience that were easily able to identify with the Leith banter, humour and dialect.

In addition to this, there were a few opportunities to burst into song during sessions of old time sing-alongs.

The first performance, directed by Liz Hare, The Queen Must Die by Alan Mountford, re-enacts the era of 1561 when Mary Queen of Scots' life is in jepoardy, as she arrives at the Port of Leith and dwells for a short stay at Lambs House, Leith.

This performance uses minimal props and literally no set is used while the cast confidently capture the audience.

A superb performance from Jemima Sinclair and Stephen Bennet, and especially Caroline MacKellar, Elek Kish and Torya Winters, who gave it their all in that moment with brilliant voice projection and passion.

Gold Rush, by Laura C Paterson, also superbly directed by Liz Hare, portrays the period of 1849, where a poor working class Leith fisher family give up their tenement home to seek their fortune in California, and to their surprise, find the streets are clearly not paved in gold and end up living in a tent with "nae flares".

Again Nicky McCabe easily grasps her character as loveable Annie, the daughter to mother and father Caroline MacKeller and Ian Watt. Caroline MacKellar brings her character to life with another great performance of a convincing character, assisted by her partner Ian Watt.

The final performance, Jimmy and the War by Cecilia Rose, was directed by Mark Kydd. This colourful performance was staged in 1945 during the war and humorously portrays an account of family life during this era.

Clearly, Hitler can't break the spirit of this one Leith laddie and his ma, beautifully performed by Karen Douglas and Nicky McCabe.

Not only are the actors passionate about heir performance but they make very effort deliver themselves as true professionals on stage.

This community based production is of high quality and further complimented by Laura Paterson's performance of tunes played on the violin. I believe the auditorium was filled with a feeling of all round nostalgia and great warmth and support for the performance of Leith Lives."

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2010

The Seige of Leith


Leith Lady c.1560 Caroline MacKellar	English Soldier Mark Kydd	Ratty the Ratcatcher Ian Watt

Siege of Leith Show - Four stars and lots of fun

Cannons, guns, pikes and battleships. Smoke in the air and roast rat for dinner. Walls all round and an endless siege. Leith, 1560. Inspired by the 450th anniversary of the Siege of Leith this summer, our playwrights from the Workers’ Educational Association Playwrights’ Workshop banded together to produce a drama around the 1560 siege. We were lucky in getting help from local Leith historians John Arthur and Jim Tweedie, who walked our writers round the battle sites. Four writers then collaborated to script the story

of the events that ended the Auld Alliance between France and Scotland forever.

The script linked Tudor days to the present by means of a time-travelling war correspondent, Malky McMorran from Leith FM. Malky travelled back to the past from 2025 to report on the siege, but when he found a lot more action than he bargained for, he found himself face to face with both royalty and regular folk and right in the middle of trouble.

In advance of the performance our rehearsed script reading in Out of the Blue in Leith brought a capacity audience. Feedback was positive and we used it to reshape and refine the script. From this event we also recruited six local volunteers to help with the show - and several have stayed to work with Citadel in future productions.

King James - Robert Flett

Mary of Guise - Mairi Jayne Weir

Onstage
The play was staged in June under the bright lights of the Leith Festival. The venue, South Leith Parish Church, stood at the heart of the siege and still displays the cannonball that

crashed through its window in 1560. The hall buzzed with near-sellout audiences including Leith legend Mary Moriarty and MP Mark Lazarowicz. ‘I welcome the idea of marking the 450th anniversary of the siege with an event like this involving local people in the production,’ said Mr Lazarowicz. ‘It’s a great way to bring our past alive.’

Live period music, colourful costumes and vibrant acting held audiences enthralled. Audience feedback was very positive:

; ‘Great local history. The actors were without exception excellent.’

’Particularly enjoyed the music and singing.’

‘Entertaining and informative.’

‘Taught me about Leith!’

Reviewer Alex Eades of EdinburghGuide.Com agreed. ‘It is a rare thing you come out of a theatre with a beaming smile to light your face,’ he wrote. ‘There is a definite air of fun about the whole production. A time-travelling journalist and a cunning rat catcher are used to

wonderful comic effect…All of the characters are gifted with smart and funny dialogue. Performances are all bright and dazzling…[it] is

an absolute joy.’ He awarded the play four stars.

Performers were Mark Kydd, Caroline MacKellar, Ian Watt, Mairi Jayne Weir, Rob Flett with local actor Leo Reid and Laure Paterson

playing live music. The production was funded by Awards for All and Leith Neighbourhood Partnership.

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2009

Suffragette What Women Want Jester

What Women Want! Photos by Edward Fisher

What Women Want,

Exactly 100 years ago...

Fire-raisers, sweethearts, doctors and daughters - the Scottish suffragettes changed the face of Scotland forever.

A fast-moving revue - comic, tragic, touching and full of the songs and jokes of the era - takes you from the drawing-rooms of Morningside to the fields of Ypres in the struggle for women's suffrage. Police, prison sentences, force-feeding - nothing stopped the Scottish suffragettes.

What Women Want! was a celebration of the Edinburgh suffragettes, and included Elsie Inglis, Flora Drummond, Grace Cadell and other feisty Scotswomen fight for the right to vote in this lively Citadel Fringe production directed by Liz Hare. Written by a group of local playwrights from the Workers' Educational Association Playwrights' Workshop: Carolyn Lincoln, Charlotte Chadwick, Alan Mountford, Kevin Ferguson, Laure C Paterson, Cecilia Rose, Brian Lincoln and Lillian King

Cast: Stephanie Falls, Caroline MacKellar, Mairi Jayne Weir and Mark Kydd.
Costumes: Rebecca Roosman
Sound: Stewart Emm
Stage Manager: Sandra Ramsay

This play was part of the Gude Cause celebrations of 100 years since the big Edinburgh Suffrage March of October 1909. In October 2009 women�s groups from all over Scotland re-enacted the grand procession along much of the original route.

Citadel Arts Group gratefully acknowledges the support and participation of our partner, the WEA who continue to fund the Playwrights Workshop. They were also supported a Costume Making workshop, tutored by Citadel's Wardrobe Mistress, Rebecca Roosman. The play project was sponsored from the Central Neighbourhood Partnership of the City of Edinburgh Council and UNISON.

Citadel in the News

Pinding

Citadel held a mock warrant sale on Friday 31st July, 2009. Passers-by stopped at the Mercat Cross on the High Street of Edinburgh to watch a re-enactment of the poinding of the household goods of Dr. Grace Cadell, played by Carolyn MacKellar. Dr. Cadell refused to pay her national insurance on the grounds of "no taxation without representation". The sale in 1913 raised just over 10 pounds and was used by the suffragists as the chance for a demonstration. Citadel actors and writers used the mock warrant sale as a photo opportunity for "What Women Want"^ back to top

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2008

The Penicuik Play

by Cecilia Rose, directed by Liz Hare

	A mining family moves to Penicuik as war breaks out in Europe, and has to cope with new neighbours, daily work in mill and mine, rationing and blossoming romance. Light-hearted and full of singalong songs, the play was created from the living memories of elderly residents in the Pentland House residential care home, and performed in day care centres, local miners’ clubs, schools and residential homes.
Pentland House residents at the Arts Festival - The Penicuik Play
Feedback from local readings enabled Cecilia Rose to develop the script and make it a more authentic celebration of life around Penicuik before and during the war years. The Penicuik Play was the only Scottish project with vulnerable people in the community to be shortlisted for an award from supportactionnet. In September 2008 the complete script received a performed reading in costume as part of the Penicuik Arts Festival. Local people crowded the town hall for this popular community event.
		Residents enjoying reminiscence-based theatre
May Robinson meets the actor who played her character.
"Special – a big hit" Penicuik News The Penicuik Play was generously supported by the Scottish Community Foundation and M.A.L.A.N.I. with further funding from Midlothian Council, Penicuik Community Council and Rotary Club.

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PERFORMED READINGS

James Hogg - a performed reading in the National Library of Scotland by Kevin Ferguson, directed by Liz Hare
The eccentric and well-loved 'Ettrick Shepherd', poet James Hogg, reels and recites his way through the genteel parlours and seedy taverns of Edinburgh. On the way he creates bawdy, bold verse and stories, while rollicking through punch-ups with Victorian publishers. Using many of Hogg’s own words, this play was written using original materials from the National Library of Scotland. Cast: Catriona MacInnes, Nick Cheales and Elek Kish.

"the play brought alive the thought process of writing" "lively, dramatic, funny...Hogg’s struggles were brilliantly enacted" (Audience Feedback)

The Search For Speke
by Laure C Paterson, directed by Liz Hare
A modern young Scotswoman risks her life to retrace the steps of John Hanning Speke, the playright's personal travels through the jungles of Africa, in quest of the truth about his journey to discover the source of the Nile. But we see Speke on the same journey in 1858, wrestling with hostile tribes, illness and betrayal, on the journey that riveted the Victorian public and rewrote African travel. The script was created from primary source materials in the National Library of Scotland and personal travels in Africa, and was given a performed reading with Elek Kish, Nick Cheales and Catriona MacInnesand Robert Camron in the National Library.

"I was intrigued by Speke’s perseverance, optimism and courage" "A positive presentation of youth" "It brought back memories of my own travels"
The NLS Readings were supported by the Workers' Educational Association Theatre Studies group

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2007

IT MAKES YOU THINK

In this 2007-8 Theatre in Education project, Citadel toured a group of short new plays on challenging issues around schools and youth centres in the Almond area of Edinburgh. First the scripts were given rehearsed readings for groups of young people. Our writers took on board their feedback as they revised their scripts

. Performance of Elephant Woman
Elephant Woman at Royal High

Elephant Woman

by Carolyn Lincoln, directed by Liz Hare

Carrie Mancini and Catriona MacInnes in Pat Brydon's play
I Want Him Back

I Want Him Back

by Pat Brydon, directed by Robert Moore

It's Personal

By Helen Welham, directed by Liz Hare

These three plays, about family tensions, were performed for drama students in South Queensferry, in a variety of local youth centres and in the Royal High drama studio to cross-generational audiences. One pupil said:"I learned a lot about older people’s views on the story."

It's Personal

Rubbish!

by Cecilia Rose

Performed in Kirkliston Community Centre, this warm-hearted play about female friendship won the Edinburgh Writers’ Club’s one-act play award, adjudicated by Vicki Featherstone, Artistic Director of the National Theatre of Scotland. The performance before an older local audience, was filmed by members of a club for young people with challenging behaviour who meet in the local library.

Just Having Fun

by Barbara Bryan

We workshopped Barbara Bryan’s monologue about drugs abuse in a unit for young people needing additional support to attend mainstream classes in South Queensferry High. The local police Youth Action Team praised Bryan’s realistic treatment of the effects of drugs: "A good forum for discussion." A pupil: "It really lets you see into a clubber’s life."

Perhaps, Possibly, Maybe

by Cecilia Rose

This play was successfully developed with feedback from members of a youth club in Stoneyburn, West Lothian. Again the comments were full of praise: "Very funny..it helped me realise how important decisions can be…it sort of inspires you to do good by yourself."

The project ended with a bang with two workshops lead by actor/playwright/director Susie Hardgraves of two of her own anarchic new plays. The scripts were given performed readings in the Royal High School with actors Patricia Cavanagh, Ian Smith and David Elliott. Susie used improvisation and student participation in two highly enjoyable workshops involving third and fifth year pupils, who voted the plays: ‘very funny. . .out of the ordinary. . . I liked the energy. . .intriguing. . . something different’.

The actors who worked in this project were Pab Roberts, Patricia Cavanagh, Carrie Mancini, Robert Moore, Nathalie Bennett, David Elliot, Yvonne Briglmen, Danny Stoba, Ian Smith, Hazel Darwin-Edwards, Helen Belbin, Claire di Carlo, Rob Flett, Nathan Paul, Claire Grehan and Catriona MacInnes.

The project was funded by Awards for All and the City of Edinburgh Council.

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SCHOOL T.I.S.E. - Theatre In Special Education

Ian Smith and Lyn Hall as Bobby and his mum

Bobby the Viking

After touring plays around mainstream schools, Citadel Arts Group moved onto developing short scripts suitable for young people with learning disabilities and special needs. This project was the brainchild of Yvonne Briglmen, who co-ordinated School T.I.S.E from the very start, when she and Robert Moore developed and performed Cecilia Rose’s script of Jimmy and the War in Saltersgate School, Midlothian. Live theatre is a rare commodity in special needs schools so the performance was welcomed with open arms: "this really brings historical subjects to life…encourages engagement….a great visual learning resource."

Staff made a DVD of the show and a lively Q and A session followed afterwards. We were able to use this to market the play and apply for funding from City of Edinburgh Council and Leith Neighbourhood Partnership and the Voluntary Action Fund Community Chest to develop more plays. As well as Jimmy and the War, Bobby the Viking by Carolyn Lincoln and There’s Gold in Them Thar Hills by Laure C. Paterson were performed in a range of North Edinburgh venues including Pilrig Park School, Leith’s Acorn Centre, Pilmeny Youth Club and Rowanfield School.

This project has been so successful that Yvonne Briglmen and Robert Moore have set up a separate theatre group to accommodate its demands.

Post-show chat - Bobby the Viking

Bobby the Viking

by Carolyn Lincoln, directed by Yvonne Briglmen

Scots lad Bobby comes home from school with a new personality – a helmeted and marauding Viking, who holds his patient mum hostage for scones. Full of colourful facts and details of Viking life and customs, the play was written as an educational tool for teaching history through drama in special needs schools. Cast: Ian Smith and Lynne Hall.

"Enthralled... learning history without reading... loved the humour!" "Had the kids captivated" Pilrig Park school teachers

There’s Gold in Them Thar Hills

by Laure C Paterson, directed by Liz Hare

Gold In Them Thar Hills

In 1850s Leith, a fisherman’s family struggles to make ends meet. Dad dreams of a better life, but when the family board a clipper ship for the California Gold Rush their problems are just beginning. Panning for gold isn’t what it’s cracked up to be – but there are still plenty of fortunes to be made - even legally - in the Wild West. Cast: Mairi Jayne Weir, Caroline McKellar and Ian Watt.

"Brilliant! Nice mix of drama and comedy." "Lots of action … really funny … I’d like to watch it again." "Cool." Leith Citadel Youth Group memberss

"I liked the use of songs and humour and pathos" Community group leader

Jimmy and the War

by Cecilia Rose. Developed and performed by Robert Moore and Yvonne Briglmen.

A young boy and his mother keep their good humour despite sirens and air raids, serviceman Father’s absence in the war, and the rigours of rationing. The 1940s as it was lived in Scotland – with the timeless love of mother and son making it a message for now.

"Thank you very much – it was great. Excellent learning aid." "Pupils became very involved – they loved Jimmy’s humour." Pilrig Park primary teachers

"We loved watching! I laughed so much!" Pilrig Park pupil with learning disabilities

Actors working on the School T.I.S.E. project were Yvonne Briglmen, Robert Moore, Ian Watt, Mairi Jayne Weir, Caroline McKellar, Ian Smith and Lyn Hall.

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2006

MAGIC MOMENTS

Post-show discussion at the Oxgangs Club

In 2006, Citadel Arts Group brought a bit of magic into the lives of a lot of frail elderly people in residential care and day care centres.

"I’ve never laughed so much… took me back to childhood days… loved it… please bring them back" said members of the over-50s club in the Muirhouse Millennium Centre. And these were typical responses when we performed Salute the Soldier by Rachel Yule, directed by Liz Hare, Ethel La Folle by Jim Mutch, directed by Nazli Tabatabai, Priorities and The Black Puddin' Club by Catherine McLachlan, directed by Liz Hare, Hide and Seek by Cecilia Rose, directed by Robert Moore and Rubbish! by Cecilia Rose, directed by Nazli Tabatabai.

Actor and Writer chat to the audience
After 'Rubbish!'

Script development was funded by Awards for All, and the City of Edinburgh Council, and the Scottish Community Foundation funded Citadel to offer these new plays around centres in South and North-West Edinburgh, from Burdiehouse Community Centre to the Haven in South Queensferry. At the Pentland Community Centre Wednesday Club, Activities Co-ordinator Olga Ferguson wrote, "It was wonderful to see how they enjoyed your two short plays and one person even tried to join in with the actors." In an Oxgangs club for visually-impaired older people, after the show the cast and playwright chatted with the audience, who were keen to share wartime memories prompted by the play.

The actors were Stanley Pattison, Yvonne Caddell, Lawrence Horton, Alexis Graham, Yvonne Briglmen, Rob Flett, Carrie Mancini, Ann Thomson, Robert Moore, Natalie Bennett and Catriona MacInnes.

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2005

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

Citadel’s 2005 Fringe show explored the grim and colourful history of Riddle’s Court which was then threatened with closure. As the regular meeting place of the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) Playwrights Workshop, who write most of our scripts, we felt a special bond with the close. So three of the playwrights group each wrote a short play based on events that occurred in the area.

l-r: Ann Thomson, Catriona MacInnes and Stanley Pattison

The Rise and Fall of Deacon Brodie

by Catherine A McLachlan, directed by Kenny McColl

A comical look at the notorious Deacon Brodie and the myths surrounding his death. Did the Edinburgh worthy-turned-housebreaker really die on a gibbet designed by himself? Or did he cheat the hangman? Cast: Ann Thomson, Catriona MacInnes and Stanley Pattison.

Gentlemen's Bairns

by Carolyn Lincoln, directed by Liz Hare

The most substantial piece, Gentlemen’s Bairns was a closely-researched historical drama written in authentic Jacobean Scots. It tells the story of Bailie MacMoran who built and lived in Riddle’s Court but met a violent end at the hands of the rioting pupils of the old Royal High School. Eric Roberston, Kenneth McColl, Rob Flett, Stanley Pattison, Philip Weddell, Bruce MacKenzie, Ann Thomson and Catriona MacInnes performed in this dark drama.

The Riddle of Riddle's Court

by John McGovern, directed by Catriona MacInnes

The programme ended with a light -hearted glimpse of the ghosts that haunt the close. Cast: Bruce McKenzie, Eric Robertson and Philip Weddell.

The show played to capacity audiences and was supported by the City of Edinburgh Council and the WEA. Reviewers especially singled out Carolyn Lincoln’s script and the “gorgeous” historical costumes designed and made by Rebecca Roosman.^ back to to

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2004

CAPITAL CAMEOS

Citadel's 2004 Fringe production.
"some fine acting by Yvonne Briglmen and Ann Thomson... an engrossing mix... the focus on ordinary lives shines through"
James Smart, The Scotsman.

The Appin Terrace Murder
On a Street Corner
by Catherine A. McLachlan, directed by Liz Hare
In this play, an unfortunate passer-by is cornered by Mrs. Payne who loves to share her life.

Waiting
Waiting
by Helen Welham, directed by Liz Hare
An elderly woman sitting alone in a café inspired this monologue.
The Appin Terrace Murder
by Carolyn Lincoln, directed by Liz Hare
A one-man comedy which tells the tragic tale of Auntie Tittie, whose bid to establish a cultural salon in her Slateford tenement goes wildly wrong, and the chain of events by which a giant wheelie bin becomes the focal point of Edinburgh's top literary tour.

Priorities
Priorities
by Catherine A. McLachlan, directed by Liz Hare
A short piece based in wartime Leith. Two women meet in a park to share the news, but how far does their friendship go?
The cast for Capital Cameos was: Yvonne Briglmen, Robert Camron, Ann Thomson and Margot Taylor.

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2003-2005

IT SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY!

Citadel Arts Group has always believed that living memory is one of the most powerful inspirations for a playwright. In our 2003–4 project, we returned to our roots in Leith/North Edinburgh to develop and perform three new plays based on memories of local people. Story-telling and reminiscence sessions began in 2003, followed by rehearsed readings of early versions of the scripts, in Riddle’s Court, where playwrights Chris Deans, Peter Arnott and John Binnie gave feedback to the playwrights.

Citadel’s co-founder, Millie Gray drew on her own dancing days in the 1950s Eldorado Ballroom to write On With the Dance, in which two young couples pair off. One of the lads is a squaddie just back from active service in the Korean War. The cast included Russell Smith as the soldier, Stanley Pattison and Patricia Cavanagh and featured the dances of the period, making this a crowd-pleaser with local audiences in the North Edinburgh Arts Centre.


It Seems Like Yesterday	Playwright Sam Cassamilly, Liz Hare with some of the Ferrylee Nursing Home residents

The project also included Ann Stenhouse’s powerful family drama, Stain Remover, directed by Nazli Tabatabai, with Carrie Mancini as a working-class mother anxious to access education for her daughter (Amy Drysdale) - and for herself.To develop the script of The Father of the Man, playwright San Cassimally and director Liz Hare collected stories in Ferry Lee Residential Home in Leith.

Out of these reminiscence sessions grew a moving play about a man also held back by a lack of opportunity and a few unfortunate marriages. The Evening News critic, Thom Dibdin, praised all three plays and speciall powerful performances by Robert Camron, Yvonne Briglmen and Catriona MacInnes.

This project was funded by the Scottish Arts Council (Access and Participation grant) and the City of Edinburgh Council. Citadel Arts Group were asked to perform Father of the Man to an appreciative audience at their Mental Health Promotion in Dublin Castle in April 2005. Costume Design for the play On With the Dance

Costumes: Rebecca Roosman

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CITADEL ARTS GROUP

Lockdown Christmas

Exploring the Depths

Three Craws

Home Comfort

Beyond the Ash Tide - Episode 1- 3

Planet Gliese 589

The Old Normal

The Walk

Hard Travelling

Leaving This Shore

Duchess of Kirkcaldy

2012

2011

2009

What Women Want,

Citadel in the News

2008

The Penicuik Play

PERFORMED READINGS

2007

IT MAKES YOU THINK

Elephant Woman

I Want Him Back

It's Personal

Rubbish!

Just Having Fun

Perhaps, Possibly, Maybe

SCHOOL T.I.S.E. - Theatre In Special Education

Bobby the Viking

There’s Gold in Them Thar Hills

Jimmy and the War

2006

MAGIC MOMENTS

2005

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

The Rise and Fall of Deacon Brodie

Gentlemen's Bairns

The Riddle of Riddle's Court

by John McGovern, directed by Catriona MacInnes

2004

CAPITAL CAMEOS

On a Street Corner

Waiting

The Appin Terrace Murder

Priorities

2003-2005

IT SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY!