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Theatre Enigma Presents ~

To mark the 85th anniversary of George Mackay Brown’s birth and the 10th anniversary of his death, Theatre Enigma are planning the first professional production of his play, The Battle in the Hills.

Six women come together to a green place on the safe side of the hill between Orphir and Stenness, Orkney. An early morning - daybreak - in the year 1529. The day of the Battle of Summerdale.

Brown’s lyrical, poetic and moving story for women’s voices explores female intuition, insights, beliefs and opinions on men and war.

It is hoped the production will premiere in Edinburgh late 2005 and tour various venues throughout Scotland in 2006.

If you are interested in sponsoring and/or receiving the production see TheatreEnigma website www.theatreenigma.com

Among the highlights of the 2006 St Magnus Festival:

A Hamnavoe Man
George Mackay Brown1921-1996. Ten years on,
a promenade performance celebrating the life and work
of the great Orcadian poet and storyteller.

To find out how to reserve your place visit
www.stmagnusfestival.com

Founding Patron - George Mackay Brown

The Netherbow, 43-45 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1SR
0131 556 2647 or 0131 557 5724
www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

The Scottish Storytelling Forum is Scotland's national charity for storytelling. It was founded in 1992 to encourage and support the telling and sharing of stories across all ages and all sectors of society in particular those who, for reasons of poverty or disability, were excluded from artistic experiences.

The Centre supports and trains story tellers both voluntary and professional. It arranges events, workshops and publications and supports story telling festivals.

New GMB Library

Just before he died, GMB agreed that the Storytelling Centre could use his name if it helped. Since then the Centre has celebrated the links between his art and storytelling in many ways.

The George Mackay Brown Storytelling Library
Seating up to 40, the library is a warm, quality setting for seminars, workshops and meetings.
The library has a breakout space for refreshments with adjacent facilities for extensive practical storytelling research and resource materials.

~~~

The new purpose built Scottish Storytelling Centre opened May 2006. There is a window in the ground floor Storytelling Court engraved with one of GMB's poems:

Lux Perpetua.
A star for a cradle
Sun for plough and net
A fire for old stories
A candle for the dead
Lux Perpetua
By such glimmers we seek you

Beside the window there will be an Orkney Chair given in memory of George by Orkney Council. On the first floor there will be the George Mackay Brown STORYTELLING LIBRARY which will be a key national resource centre for traditional and contemporary storytelling. It is hoped there will be a complete set of GMB's works, and the Russell Trust are donating two fine photographic studies of George by Gordon Wright.

In the Storytelling Theatre on the basement level there will be a special seat dedicated to George - given by the storyteller David Campbell who knew him well.

Dr. Donald Smith, Director, sums this up as a burgeoning spontaneous tribute to GMB's inspiration, and one focus among others for remembering George's work and importance.