https://musical1.com/hame-productions Tue, 07 Apr 2026 04:40:22 +0100 https://musical1.com/hame-productions/blog/235/clarinda-homecoming-2009 https://musical1.com/hame-productions/blog/235 Clarinda    

Following the successful tour of Scotland in January/ February 2008 and an appearance at the Scottish Government's St Andrews Day Celebration in Edinburgh on 30 November, "Clarinda" will be featured at several events during Homecoming 2009.

These will include three abridged versions of the musical, performed over two days (22/23 May 2009)  in Ayr as part of the "Burns an' a' that" Festival. We will also be performing a showcase of songs from the show as part of the "On The Rocks" Festival in St Andrews on 21 April and doing a lunctime writers workshop in the Festival Bar at 1pm.Confirmed dates so far:

ON THE ROCKS FESTIVAL - Byre Theatre St Andrews, Tuesday 21 April at 7.30pm
BURNS AN A THAT FESTIVAL - Gyle Centre, Ayr Friday 22 May 2009 at 1pm and 3.00pm & Wellington Square, Ayr Saturday 23 May 2009 at 2.00pm
TARTAN DAY, ABERDEEN - Sunday 2 August 2009
BELLADRUM FESTIVAL, BEAULY - Friday 7 and Saturday 8 August 2009
OFFSHORE EUROPE 2009 - Balmoral Group stand at Aberdeen Exhibition Centre Wednesday 9 September 2009
We would like to offer thanks to the Balmoral Group, Aberdeen for sponsoring the above events

A CD of the complete score of "Clarinda", performed by the original cast who toured the show earlier this year, has been released. To hear song samples or to order a copy go to www.clarindathemusical.com]]> Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:33:57 +0100 https://musical1.com/hame-productions/blog/234/play-to-commemorate-piper-alpha https://musical1.com/hame-productions/blog/234 Lest we forget    

A new play titled "Lest We Forget", commissioned by the chief executive of Aberdeen Performing Arts to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Piper Alpha Disaster, ran from 2 to 6 July 2008 (the 20th anniversary) at the Lemon Tree Studio Theatre in Aberdeen.
In May 2009 it will return to the Lemon Tree before embarking on a tour of rural North East Scotland venues followed by a visit to the Dundee REP Theatre on 15/16 May. Full tour dates available on the "EVENTS" page.]]> Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:32:16 +0100 https://musical1.com/hame-productions/blog/82/mother-of-all-the-peoples https://musical1.com/hame-productions/blog/82


[color=purple]

What a privilege to attend the premiere of this new Scottish musical" Mary Dalgity, EVENING EXPRESS.



"Thanks to a Scottish playwright, Mary Slessor's story is finally being told" Jim Gilchrist, THE SCOTSMAN



"A little gem of a work....engaging and without pretention" Joy Watters, DUNDEE COURIER



Her grave in Calabar is still visited, almost 100 years after her death, by dignitaries and royalty from around the world. She is the only woman to appear on a Scottish bank note. She is arguably the worlds most famous female missionary. And yet the average Scot knows little of Mary Slessor, the Dundee mill girl who devoted her life to living and working amongst the most primitive of peoples in West Africa. She remains Scotland's forgotten heroine.



Mother of All the Peoples will hopefully go someway to remedying that situation. Based on the life of the Aberdeen born missionary, the remarkable story of Mary's journey from the slums and mills of Dundee, living in fear of a drunken and violent father, through her work in the Dundee Mission Halls to her years in the deepest jungles of Calabar is told with a mixture of humour and pathos.



Mother of All the Peoples has been written by Mike Gibb and features a score of ten new songs provided by Mike Gibb and Mairi Paton.



The show premiered at the Lemon Tree from 20 February 2003 with a cast of three of Northern Scotland's finest female actors Jill Hay, Yvonne Morton and Sarah Alexander - and directed by that doyen of North East theatre, Annie Inglis. It sold out its limited run four weeks prior to opening night making it the fastest selling show in the Theatre's history and enjoyed tremendous audience acclaim.



The show was featured on Radio Scotland's Arts Programme and is the subject of a documentary, intended for the US and Canadian cable networks, made by Tartan TV.



It was brought to the stage thanks to the financial support of the Scottish Arts Council and Aberdeen City Council and the sponsorship of TotalFinaElf Exploration. A percentage of all ticket receipts and CD sales was donated to Christian Aid to help with their work in Africa.



Due to the success of the inaugural production the show is being reprised with the same three talented actors at the much larger Aberdeen Arts Centre from 27 to 29 November 2003. Due to a demand for tickets the box office opened in June, more than six months in advance of opening night, and sold out almost a month prior to opening night.



In March 2004 the show enjoyed a sold-out run at the Gardyne Theatre, Dundee with a Tayside cast of Lynne Binnie, Tricia Stewart, Julia Walker and Aileen Air. In addition to enjoying great critical acclaim, it also raised £7000 for the Mary Slessor Foundation to assist them in carrying on Mary's work in Calabar, Nigeria. For further information on the Foundation contact them at info@maryslessor.org or visit their web site at www.maryslessor.org



Future productions include the Byre Theatre, St Andrews (18 to 20 November 2004), West Church, Inverurie (26/27 November 2004 for Christian Aid) and the Gardyne Theatre, Dundee (24/26 March 2005). Productions in Perth, Edinburgh and Glasgow are being considered.



Music from the show is to be used by STV in their forthcoming programme about Mary Slessor, part of a "Six Great Scots" series.



Photographs courtesy of Michael Craig.











]]> Sat, 12 Mar 2005 16:10:43 +0000 https://musical1.com/hame-productions/blog/81/a-land-fit-for-heroes https://musical1.com/hame-productions/blog/81


"definitely a musical fit for a worldwide audience" RODDY PHILLIPS, Press & Journal



"It has something for everyone. The blistering political and social comment of McGrath's The Cheviot, The Stag and the Black, Black Oil and the haunting songs and pathos of The Steamie" LORRAINE TINNEY, Greenock Times


[color=purple]A LAND FIT FOR HEROES tells the dramatic, at times amusing, but ultimately touching story of an ordinary family and in particular the matriarchal figure of Sarah McLeod. Based on an original story and set in the early part of the Twentieth Century, the journey takes us through the events that effect their lives including eviction from their Highland croft, moving to the big city, emigration of a family member and the era of unemployment and the rise of socialism in post First World War Glasgow.







With wonderful Celtic music by composer Graham Stephen, a well-known and respected songwriter and musician, A Land Fit For Heroes debuted at the Lemon Tree Theatre in Aberdeen in June 2001, enjoying a limited sold-out run. The highly professional production was made possible thanks to the funding of the Scottish Arts Council and Aberdeen City Council and the sponsorship of oil giant TotalFinaElf. The show gathered bouquets from a number of press scribes, a selection of which are reproduced below. Just as importantly the audience reaction was remarkable, many clearly enjoying great empathy with the characters on stage.



In October 2002 the show was licensed to the amateur circuit and currently a number of theatre companies in Scotland and as far away as America, Canada and Australia have expressed interest in staging productions.



In September 2003 Greenock Players chose it for their 60th Anniversary production and the show was just as well received in the west of Scotland being described in the local press as "wonderful".







WHAT THE PRESS SAID:



."an unmissable and memorable experience.a superb piece of vibrant, highly effective theatre.a passionate showthis home-grown musical boasts some wonderful songs, a strong storyline and high production values.If you want to see musical theatre history being made don't miss this show" RODDY PHILLIPS SCOTTISH PRESS AND JOURNAL



"this musical is rich in easy-on-the-ear tunes. It is a simple story beautifully set and beautifully told" JAMES ALLEN - EVENING EXPRESS



"a serious piece of theatre with several moments that made the hairs rise on the back of my neck.a lovely warmth permeates the piecethe music by Graham Stephen is wonderful, strongly influenced by the stage but with a Celtic felling that highlights the Scottish-ness of the pieceA Land Fit for Heroes is a moving passionate musical that touches the heart and soul" MICHAEL CRAIG - MASQUERADE MAGAZINE



"A Land Fit For Heroes would appeal to audiences not only the length and breadth of Scotland, but also in America, Canada and the many other parts of the world where Scots have settled and retain a wistful fondness for Caledonia" SHOW MUSIC (US Magazine)



"It has something for everyone. The blistering political and social comment of McGrath's The Cheviot, The Stag and the Black, Black Oil and the haunting songs and pathos of The Steamie....A Land Fit for Heroes will make you laugh, cry and angry....good reason to see it...it's wonderful" LORRAINE TINNEY, Greenock Telegraph



ANY THEATRE COMPANIES REQUIRING FURTHER INFORMATION, A READING COPY OF THE SCRIPT OR AN 18 MINUTE HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO SHOULD CONTACT MIKE GIBB (SEE CONTACT PAGE)



Photographs courtesy of Ken Trinder.

































A LAND FIT FOR HEROES tells the dramatic, at times amusing, but ultimately touching story of an ordinary family and in particular the matriarchal figure of Sarah McLeod. Based on an original story and set in the early part of the Twentieth Century, the journey takes us through the events that effect their lives including eviction from their Highland croft, moving to the big city, emigration of a family member and the era of unemployment and the rise of socialism in post First World War Glasgow.



With wonderful Celtic music by composer Graham Stephen, a well-known and respected songwriter and musician, A Land Fit For Heroes debuted at the Lemon Tree Theatre in Aberdeen in June 2001, enjoying a limited sold-out run. The highly professional production was made possible thanks to the funding of the Scottish Arts Council and Aberdeen City Council and the sponsorship of oil giant TotalFinaElf. The show gathered bouquets from a number of press scribes, a selection of which are reproduced below. Just as importantly the audience reaction was remarkable, many clearly enjoying great empathy with the characters on stage.



In October 2002 the show was licensed to the amateur circuit and currently a number of theatre companies in Scotland and as far away as America, Canada and Australia have expressed interest in staging productions.



In September 2003 Greenock Players chose it for their 60th Anniversary production and the show was just as well received in the west of Scotland being described in the local press as "wonderful".







WHAT THE PRESS SAID:



."an unmissable and memorable experience.a superb piece of vibrant, highly effective theatre.a passionate showthis home-grown musical boasts some wonderful songs, a strong storyline and high production values.If you want to see musical theatre history being made don't miss this show" RODDY PHILLIPS SCOTTISH PRESS AND JOURNAL



"this musical is rich in easy-on-the-ear tunes. It is a simple story beautifully set and beautifully told" JAMES ALLEN - EVENING EXPRESS



"a serious piece of theatre with several moments that made the hairs rise on the back of my neck.a lovely warmth permeates the piecethe music by Graham Stephen is wonderful, strongly influenced by the stage but with a Celtic felling that highlights the Scottish-ness of the pieceA Land Fit for Heroes is a moving passionate musical that touches the heart and soul" MICHAEL CRAIG - MASQUERADE MAGAZINE



"A Land Fit For Heroes would appeal to audiences not only the length and breadth of Scotland, but also in America, Canada and the many other parts of the world where Scots have settled and retain a wistful fondness for Caledonia" SHOW MUSIC (US Magazine)



"It has something for everyone. The blistering political and social comment of McGrath's The Cheviot, The Stag and the Black, Black Oil and the haunting songs and pathos of The Steamie....A Land Fit for Heroes will make you laugh, cry and angry....good reason to see it...it's wonderful" LORRAINE TINNEY, Greenock Telegraph



ANY THEATRE COMPANIES REQUIRING FURTHER INFORMATION, A READING COPY OF THE SCRIPT OR AN 18 MINUTE HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO SHOULD CONTACT MIKE GIBB (SEE CONTACT PAGE)



Photographs courtesy of Ken Trinder.

































A LAND FIT FOR HEROES tells the dramatic, at times amusing, but ultimately touching story of an ordinary family and in particular the matriarchal figure of Sarah McLeod. Based on an original story and set in the early part of the Twentieth Century, the journey takes us through the events that effect their lives including eviction from their Highland croft, moving to the big city, emigration of a family member and the era of unemployment and the rise of socialism in post First World War Glasgow.



With wonderful Celtic music by composer Graham Stephen, a well-known and respected songwriter and musician, A Land Fit For Heroes debuted at the Lemon Tree Theatre in Aberdeen in June 2001, enjoying a limited sold-out run. The highly professional production was made possible thanks to the funding of the Scottish Arts Council and Aberdeen City Council and the sponsorship of oil giant TotalFinaElf. The show gathered bouquets from a number of press scribes, a selection of which are reproduced below. Just as importantly the audience reaction was remarkable, many clearly enjoying great empathy with the characters on stage.



In October 2002 the show was licensed to the amateur circuit and currently a number of theatre companies in Scotland and as far away as America, Canada and Australia have expressed interest in staging productions.



In September 2003 Greenock Players chose it for their 60th Anniversary production and the show was just as well received in the west of Scotland being described in the local press as "wonderful".







WHAT THE PRESS SAID:



."an unmissable and memorable experience.a superb piece of vibrant, highly effective theatre.a passionate showthis home-grown musical boasts some wonderful songs, a strong storyline and high production values.If you want to see musical theatre history being made don't miss this show" RODDY PHILLIPS SCOTTISH PRESS AND JOURNAL



"this musical is rich in easy-on-the-ear tunes. It is a simple story beautifully set and beautifully told" JAMES ALLEN - EVENING EXPRESS



"a serious piece of theatre with several moments that made the hairs rise on the back of my neck.a lovely warmth permeates the piecethe music by Graham Stephen is wonderful, strongly influenced by the stage but with a Celtic felling that highlights the Scottish-ness of the pieceA Land Fit for Heroes is a moving passionate musical that touches the heart and soul" MICHAEL CRAIG - MASQUERADE MAGAZINE



"A Land Fit For Heroes would appeal to audiences not only the length and breadth of Scotland, but also in America, Canada and the many other parts of the world where Scots have settled and retain a wistful fondness for Caledonia" SHOW MUSIC (US Magazine)



"It has something for everyone. The blistering political and social comment of McGrath's The Cheviot, The Stag and the Black, Black Oil and the haunting songs and pathos of The Steamie....A Land Fit for Heroes will make you laugh, cry and angry....good reason to see it...it's wonderful" LORRAINE TINNEY, Greenock Telegraph



ANY THEATRE COMPANIES REQUIRING FURTHER INFORMATION, A READING COPY OF THE SCRIPT OR AN 18 MINUTE HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO SHOULD CONTACT MIKE GIBB (SEE CONTACT PAGE)



Photographs courtesy of Ken Trinder.































































]]> Sat, 12 Mar 2005 16:06:14 +0000 https://musical1.com/hame-productions/blog/80/welcome-to-hamepages-the-web-site-for-the-stage-musicals-of-scottish-writer-mike-gibb https://musical1.com/hame-productions/blog/80
Mike Gibb has been involved with the world of show music for the last fifteen years in the capacity of editor of UK based magazine, MASQUERADE, and, until the magazine's sad demise in 2002, as UK correspondent of the American based quarterly, SHOW MUSIC. He currently contributes a regular CD review column to the magazine, SPOTLIGHT ON MUSICALS.



He has long been concerned with the fact that if you ask anyone with any interest in the theatre to name a Scottish musical they will invariably answer "Brigadoon". Brigadoon, with its American image of a Scotland where everyone lives amongst heather covered hills, clad from head to foot in tartan and goes about saying "Aye Laddie" most of the time.



In an effort to try to overcome that vision, back in 1995 he began work on a musical about real Scots and real Scottish issues. Six long, and at times traumatic years later, A Land Fit For Heroes eventually enjoyed its full premiere.



Following on the success of A Land Fit For Heroes, Mike began work on a second musical play with a Scottish theme. Mother of All the People brought to the stage the remarkable story of the life of Mary Slessor, the Aberdeen born missionary, following her from the slums and mills of Dundee through her work in the Dundee Mission Halls to her years living in the deepest jungles of Calabar.



Mike has recently completed a third Scottish musical play titled The Day That Haomooth Died. It is the story of a fictional family caught up in the all to real events of Black Friday, October 14th 1881, the day of the Eyemouth Fishing Disaster.



He has also recently finished work on a one-act play titled What Goes Around with music by Edinburgh classical composer Julian Wagstaff

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