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Wick in Caithness sits at
the heart of an ancient trade route which links Iceland
with the oldest parliament in the world, Sweden with its
modern culture of design and excellence, Norway where
Stavanger2008 is the European Capital of Culture and the
Faroe Islands where the chain dance which brings the
entire community together and was instrumental in
preserving the Faroese language.
Grey Coast
will draw on all these influences and the Nordic
commitment to social justice to explore new dramatic
forms informed by our shared cultural heritage. Norse,
Gaelic and Scots traditions can and should inform the
storytelling of our own North theatre. Grey Coast
is in the unique position of being able to bring theatre
makers from all of these countries together here in
Caithness to discover new shapes from old roots.
The first Nordic
International Playwriting Symposium will take place in
late October 2008 bringing together writers, academics
and theatre makers to debate new forms of dramatic
discourse and begin a dialogue which will shape theatre
practice nationally and internationally.
‘One of the many
aspects of this conference is to see how best Nordic
countries, their writers and their theatre companies,
can interact with the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.
I believe that the future of dramatic writing
originating from the north of Scotland has to embrace
the forms of its own cultural tradition and reinvent
them for a
21st century audience in tandem
with our Icelandic, Scandinavian and Celtic neighbours.
We can stimulate the audience of the future. In both
playwriting and production we have much to learn and
much to share.’
George Gunn
If you would like
more information on the Symposium and to register your
interest please
email us
The Symposium is funded by the Nordic Culture Point and
by HIE Caithness & Sutherland.
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