Twenty years after it was final seen in full-scale manufacturing, The Gaiety Ayr, Perth Theatre and Cumbernauld Theatre Firm are combining to current a brand-new tour of Ann Marie Di Mambro’s trendy Scottish traditional Tally’s Blood.
Directed by Ken Alexander, who additionally directed the 2003 manufacturing, Tally’s Blood will open in Perth Theatre from Thursday 21 till Saturday 30 September 2023 earlier than touring to Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock; Cumbernauld Theatre at Lanternhouse; Eastwood Park Theatre, Giffnock; Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling and Theatre Royal, Dumfries, concluding its run at The Gaiety from Wednesday 1 till Friday 3 November.
There’s hardly a city or metropolis in Scotland that doesn’t have its personal Italian café, chippy or ice-cream parlour. And it’s in considered one of these much-loved institutions that the story of Tally’s Blood begins…
Lucia can wrap her aunt and uncle round her little finger, cry to order, and he or she doesn’t like going to highschool. She likes Hughie although, a lot in order that they seal their friendship with a secret ceremony within the storeroom of her household’s ‘Tally’ store – aided by a bootleg bottle of ‘ginger’.
Auntie Rosinella loves Lucia like all the kids she by no means had, however will anybody – significantly a ‘Scotch’ boy – ever be adequate for the woman she loves ‘greatest in the entire broad world’’?
As their childhood camaraderie blossoms into romance, Lucia and Hughie face extra challenges than their international locations taking opposing sides within the Second World Struggle.
Informed with coronary heart and humour, Tally’s Blood follows the lives of an Italian immigrant household in Scotland, from the Nineteen Thirties by to the Nineteen Fifties, in a sweeping story of poverty, ardour and prejudice that travels from the west of Scotland to the sun-baked Italian countryside.
First carried out on the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh in 1990, Tally’s Blood is a Set Textual content for Nationwide 5 English.
Welcoming the brand new tour, introduced on Italian Liberation Day – 25 April 2023 – Ann Marie Di Mambro stated:
“Of all of the items I’ve written within the final 30+ years Tally’s Blood is closest to my coronary heart. It delves into my very own Scottish-Italian heritage and the tales I used to be instructed rising up. I’m very excited on the prospect of a tour marking the 20th anniversary of the final manufacturing and I’m delighted that Ken Alexander is returning to direct it as soon as once more.”
Ken Alexander stated:
“I’ve been eager to revisit the play for a while because it has turn into one thing of a Scottish traditional, identified by folks throughout the nation however sometimes produced.
It’s a piece that, though set between the Nineteen Thirties and Nineteen Fifties, has lots of modern resonances – significantly these round multiculturalism and the immigrant expertise, and modern points that make us query what brings us collectively and what pushes us aside in society. Nonetheless, the factor that appeals to me most is the massive coronary heart that’s contained in Ann Marie Di Mambro’s play – drawn very carefully from her family expertise as Italian immigrants that settled in Scotland. Her storytelling is filled with heat, nostalgia and affection with out ever being overly sentimental. Audiences can anticipate a rattling good story, laughter, tears and night time out!”
Jeremy Wyatt, Chief Government of The Gaiety stated:
“Tally’s Blood is a couple of key a part of Scotland’s historical past, and the sturdy bond between Scotland and Italy. And it’s additionally in regards to the immigrant expertise so it’s about Scotland’s current too. On prime of that it’s humorous, with a splash of romance. No marvel it has a particular place within the hearts of so many individuals I converse to.”
Fraser Morrison, Artistic Producer at Cumbernauld Theatre stated:
“At Cumbernauld Theatre we recognise the strengths of working in partnership and are delighted to affix forces with Perth Theatre and Ayr Gaiety. This highly effective and poignant play instantly captured our consideration because it explores key themes that aren’t solely related to our trendy society at this time, but additionally resonate deeply with us as a Scottish neighborhood. We’re assured that this story will ring a bell with our native viewers who recognize tales rooted in reality and authenticity, and who worth the ability of connection. Moreover, this collaboration gives a novel alternative for college teams to interact with our Artistic Studying programme alongside this work, and for most of the people to take pleasure in a contemporary Scottish traditional. We sit up for embarking on this thrilling journey with our companions and sharing Tally’s Blood with audiences throughout Scotland.”
Nick Williams, Chief Government of Perth Theatre and Live performance Corridor stated:
“We’re delighted to be working in partnership with our buddies at The Gaiety and Cumbernauld Theatre Firm to carry Tally’s Blood to the stage once more. Twenty years because it final toured, I’m certain that Ken Alexander’s new manufacturing will provoke heat reminiscences from its many followers and resonate with a brand new era of younger theatre lovers who’re simply discovering this poignant love story with its enduring themes and relatable characters.”
Tickets for Tally’s Blood will go on sale this summer season, with additional data and forged announcement to comply with.
