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Graeme Dalling on Wickies: The Vanishing Men of Eilean Mor
We all love a great ghost story, and higher but, one which has a foot firmly in true life occasions. Which is simply what Wickies: The Vanishing Men of Eilean Mor guarantees us. It’s based mostly on the the disappearance of three lighthouse keepers stationed on a abandoned island within the Outer Hebrides in 1900. No hint of any of the lads was ever discovered, which has result in a century of hypothesis and folklore.
And now the story is coming to Park Theatre this December. Billed as a haunting ghost story, which does recommend which manner author Paul Morrissey is taking his twist on the story. Wanting to know extra, we grabbed a while with one among its stars, Graeme Dalling, who we’ll quickly be seeing as one of many lighthouse keepers, Donald MacArthur.
What are you able to inform us about Wickies then?
The play explores one among Scotland’s most enduring mysteries… what on earth occurred to a few males stationed on a lighthouse within the Outer Hebrides who appear to fade with out a hint?? I feel that’s all I’ll say. The much less the higher!
The play is predicated on true occasions, have been you conscious of the story earlier than you auditioned?
Yes, completely, and its weirdly so current within the public psyche. So many books, songs and movies have been impressed by these occasions. It’s captured individuals’s imaginations for over 120 years!
Have you executed a lot background analysis into the story and your character? Or is it finest to not delve too deep into such issues in case it clouds how your director needs you to current the character?
I love to do a little bit of studying, sure. I gathered fairly a couple of books on lighthouses and lighthouse keepers to get into the world of the play. I additionally tried to get out to a lighthouse, however they’re very onerous to get to! I try to not get too slowed down in analysis and as a substitute spend plenty of time with the script. All the solutions are typically in there!
How a lot of the play is predicated on what’s actually recognized concerning the males and the occasions surrounding their disappearance, and the way a lot is predicated on the folklore that has advanced over time?
I might say it’s a little bit of each. There are plenty of written documentation from the time from the inquest and preliminary interviews into the disappearance, so fairly a little bit of the script is phrase for phrase what these individuals truly stated. And clearly we’ll by no means know really what occurred on that lighthouse in December 1900, so Paul Morrissey does draw on folklore and superstition and ghost tales to fill within the gaps!
You’re taking part in Donald MacArthur, what do we have to learn about him then?
That a lighthouse is the proper place for him. He’s a stoic, brooding, quiet man who simply needs to place his head down and do the work. Initially the isolation and loneliness match him completely however finally turns into his undoing. There is an unpredictability to him, plenty of repressed rage and pent-up aggression which one character appears to unlock, unluckily for him….!
And we have to ask, will you be rising (or gluing on) a pleasant huge bushy beard for the play as a result of absolutely all lighthouse keepers ought to have splendidly unkempt beards? And a pipe completely within the nook of your mouth possibly?
It’s all about moustaches in 1900! And I’m steadily cultivating a lovely one.
Is there a special strategy when taking part in a true-life character, do you’re feeling a have to be sincere to no matter chances are you’ll learn about them?
I haven’t thought an excessive amount of about it to be sincere, it’s so way back, and never loads is understood about these males. Like I stated earlier than, when a script is that this good, every thing you want is there on the web page.
The present opens 30 November, so nonetheless a few weeks away, however have you ever had the chance to see the set but – how are you bringing the texture of a distant lighthouse on a abandoned Outer Hebrides Island to Finsbury Park?
We’ve seen the mannequin field and the set seems unbelievable, Zoe Hurwitz has actually captured the essence of being in a lighthouse, it’s virtually like we’ll be performing within the spherical, which form of is smart! There’s going to be loads executed with sound and lighting and costume which can hopefully make the viewers really feel like they’re on the lighthouse with us!
Why do you’re feeling ghost tales appear to be a part of Christmas theatre custom then? And is there a lot distinction to appearing in a ghost story like this versus extra regular dramas? Do it’s important to carry a special perspective to the rehearsal room to get into the suitable temper?
It’s concerning the evening’s drawing in, the chilly and the darkish and us all gathering in collectively to inform tales of the previous, which inevitably turn into ghost tales. I feel A Christmas Carol has loads to do with it additionally. It’s a time for reflection and looking out again on the previous and maybe attempting to make sense of issues that don’t make sense! And we’ve simply tried to maintain the reality of every second and scene. We can’t over play the scariness of moments as a result of it then turns into too figuring out. The characters don’t know they’re in a ghost story, so it’s important to play it straight!
And now you’ve a while to delve into the story and your character, have you ever developed any of your personal theories as to what occurred to the three males? Or are we to imagine they only vanished into the skinny air on that chilly evening?
My thoughts retains altering. My logical aspect of my mind accepts the obvious reply, which is that all of them bought taken out by a storm, however my creativeness needs it to be one thing else. Ask me once more on the finish of the run!
Our because of Graeme for his day out from rehearsals to talk with us.
Wickies: The Vanishing Men of Eilean Mor performs at Park Theatre 30 November – 31 December. Further data and bookings could be discovered right here.