Whaur’s Yer Wullie Shakespeare Noo

4⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Written and Directed by Brian Logan 

The year is 1756 the enlightened intelligent gentlemen are meeting to do a read through and dry run of a new play “Douglas” written by Reverend John Home. 

By writing the play they are going against the morals of the kirk led by John Witherspoon. Played with hellfire and brimstone zeal by Gavin John Wright. 

As the play is introduced in Oran Mor’s basement auditorium, the producer is only half way back through the audience. When Witherspoon appears, crucifix in hand to curse the audience for gathering to watch the lowest of all art forms, the theatre. 

At that time no theatres were licensed by the Westminster London rule, this was only 10 years after the defeat of the Jacobite rebellion. 

Kevin Lennon as Alexander Carlyle, Moderator of the General Assembly of The Church of Scotland, and Fraser Sivewright as David Hume a relation of John Home both believed in the enlightenment and championed the new play. 

Lewie Watson as the dashing young Home rides to London to present his play to the legendary David Garrick who rejected the Scot, sending him back to Edinburgh. 

Not to be put off by the evangelical nay-sayers, Carlyle and Hume convince him to stage his play in the Canongate Theatre unlicensed – causing him to give up his ministry in Leath. 

“Douglas” was performed to a full house with all the great and the good of Edinburgh society in attendance. It was a roaring success and caused the most famous heckle in Scottish Theatre “Whaur’s Yer Wullie Shakespeare Noo?” to be shouted, finally cementing Scottish writing good for the stage. 

The play became a huge Success both sides of the border!

Brian Logan writes in Scots, and it works perfectly for this wordy play about the beginnings of the start of modern theatre in Scotland. 

His direction keeps the performances tight, jumping between the story of the writing of “Douglas” to the actual play itself.

The cast all excel with the Scots language and perform the multiple roles of Witherspoon, Carlyle, Hume and Home along with becoming the players of “Douglas” with ease. 

There are many opportunities for lampooning the acting style of 1756 and many a known gag involving the present setting, and the eating of pies! They give comic effect to the rather historical play which without that light touch could become dreich. 

It was also a reminder of  the cultural Scotland, England divide. Which been part of our heritage since the pairing began. 

It was good to see a huge cast of four on stage at A Play, A Pie and A Pint. The normal constraints of one to three actors being abandoned. Now a precedent has been set writers struggling to adapt to a smaller cast can argue for four players. 

“Douglas” was taught in schools however Shakespear has overtaken that now and is indeed the better remembered. 

As a side note John Home was honoured by a face carving on The Scott Monument in Edinburgh. 

And John Witherspoon’s Church the Leigh Kirk in Paisely became an art’s centre! 

It has now closed in Oran Mor. However it’s touring to the Traverse in Edinburgh and the Lemon Tree in Aberdeen. Catch it there!