Storyteller Dougie Mackay and musician Freya Rae bring magical tales from the ancient Fianna to life in this fresh, lively show.
Against a projected Highland backdrop and with a painting of a deer joining them on stage, we learn about warriors, bards, druids, mages and mythical creatures. Through tales from the Fianna Cycle Dougie introduces us to the Salmon of Knowledge, the adventures of Finn MacCool and his lover Sadhbh, and the tragic story of Finn’s son Oisin.
These stories are perhaps not as well-known as they ought to be, but we’re eased into them gently with some philosophical questions that get some profound answers from the Thursday audience. ‘What’s the sweetest music?’ received the response ‘a child’s laughter’, and my favourite, replying to ‘what’s purer than freshly fallen snow?’, ‘whisky’. Are they the ‘correct’ answers? All will be revealed… in time.
Dougie is a captivating presence, resplendent as he is in a kilt; he evokes a time when poetry and stories mattered as much as a warrior’s prowess, and codes of hospitality were strict and not to be broken. The musical soundtrack is evocative – a sharp fiddle note denoting a scream, the gentle tinkle of chimes for a magical potion – and lends a cinematic air to proceedings. Don’t worry, the audience get to help out with sound effects too!
Animate Lands is an enchanting hour of myths and legends that will sweep you away from the Fringe madness and a little bit closer to Tír na nÓg.
****
Animate Lands: A Celtic Myth Cycle is at Scottish Storytelling Centre, 20/22/24/26 Aug