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Citadel Goes Viral

Hi! This is Citadel Arts Group, a Leith based theatre company dedicated to giving a voice to older people. When the Covid virus hit the country, all our projects had to go on hold. That when we turned to Zoom and we gave our playwrights group the challenge of creating short audio scripts for Citadel to record using the new technology- well, new to us anyway!

Leithers One Family

Citadel Art Group's new series of 10 minute audio plays are all based on separate chapters from William Haddow's popular historic novel 'Leithers One Family'. The eleven audio dramas follow the fictitious Preston family of Leith through plague, war and poverty from the 14th to 21st centuries.

4. Unwelcome Visitor

Unwelcome Visitor was written by Elaine Campbell, and features, Laverne Edmonds, Andrea McKenzie, Sean Fitzpatrick, Audrey Jenkinson, James Sutherland, Michael Francis, and Jemima Sinclair. Music by Laure Paterson. Sound Design by Stewart Emm. Directed by Liz Hare. The 5th play in the series will be "The Gibbet" by Pamela Hanlon and can be heard on the 9th May.

3. The Ships

The Ships by Barbara Munro featured Sandy Jack, James Bryce, Alison MacFarlane, Gregor Davidson, Alec Westwood and James Sutherland. Direction and Sound Design by Adam Tomkins. Music by Laure Paterson. The 4th play in the series will be "Unwelcome Visitors" by Elaine Campbell and can be heard on the 25th April.

2. The Preceptory

THE PRECEPTORY was written by Susan Chaney, and features, Adam Tomkins, Sean Fitzpatrick, Audrey Jenkinson, Stephanie Falls and Alec Westwood. Music by Laure Paterson, Sound Design by Stewart Emm, and directed by Liz Hare. The next play in the series, The Ships by Barbara Munro will be broadcast on 11th April.

1. The Betrayal

'The Betrayal' by Hilary Spiers, featuring Gregor Davidson, Estrid Barton, Alec Westwood, Sandy Jack and James Sutherland. Direction and Sound Design by Adam Tomkins. Music by Laure Paterson.

Three Craws

It’s tough being a young crow, figuring out relationships, finding your identity, worrying about the planet. Three Craws was written by Rhona McAdam, and features Lewis Gribben, Gregor Davidson, Alison MacFarlane and Sean Fitzpatrick. Music by Sally Thomas (Flute) and Laure Paterson (Fiddle), Sound Design by Adam Tomkins, and directed by Liz Hare.

Citadel Arts Group is supported by the Robertson Trust.

Lockdown Christmas

Lockdown Christmas by Vincent Maguire is the second audio production by the Chat 'N' Chew Drama Company based in Croft an Righ, a Viewpoint Housing Association complex for older people. The play is performed by the tenants assisted by professional actors, Sian Fiddimore and Adam Tomkins. Music is by Al Clement, sound design by Stewart Emm and the play is directed by Liz Hare.

Exploring the Depths

Exploring The Depths was written by Jim Brown of the Citadel Arts Group as a theatrical play for young adults.
It is a dramatisation of life on the Fisheries Research Vessel (FRV) Explorer, based on the memories of crew members and scientists who served on the vessel. Now known as the Steam Ship (SS) Explorer, the vessel is currently undergoing preservation and restoration at Leith Docks by The SS Explorer Preservation Society

Find More About the Explorer

An illustrated living memories book which captures Explorer crew & staff interviews, is still available for those really interested in the research vessel. Cost £7 plus £2 p&p. Contact Liz Hare at lizhare@blueyonder.co.uk

Home Comfort

'Home Comfort' by Vincent Maguire is performed by Citadel's 'Chat 'N' Chew Theatre Company'. They are a group of tenants from Croft an Righ, a Viewpoint Housing Association complex for older people in Abbeyhill. They shared the stories on which the play is based and read the parts in the play, with the support of actor Adam Tomkins. Visit the Chat 'N' Chew Theatre Company Facebook page for more details of the project.

Beyond the Ash Tide - Episode 3

Episode 3 of 'Beyond the Ash Tide' by Susan Chaney. Cat and Milly continue their quest for Mr Bettans' farm. Does the past hold secrets which will heal the pain they both feel? Cat was played by Audrey Jenkinson and Milly by Debbie Cannon. The parts of Mr Bettans and Roger were taken by Adam Tomkins and the Bal Maiden and Mother by Suzanne Dance.

Beyond the Ash Tide- episode 2

Episode 2 of 'Beyond the Ash Tide' by Susan Chaney. Although Cat and Milly's memories prove unreliable, they manage to share some confidences for the first time.

Beyond the Ash Tide - Episode 1

Episode 1: 'Beyond the Ash Tide' by Susan Chaney with Suzanne Dance, Debbie Canon, Audrey Jenkinson and Adam Tomkins. The play is set in Cornwall past and present. Sisters Cat and Milly revisit childhood haunts while all around hover echoes from their difficult childhood and the more distant history of Cornwall, when women called Bal Maidens worked in the tin mines. The sound editor is Stewart Emm and the play was directed by Liz Hare. The musicians are Laure Paterson, violin, and Sally Thomas, flute. Announcer Jodie Lawrance.

5. The Old Normal

THE OLD NORMAL by Carolyn Lincoln with Charles Donnelly and Mark Kydd. Even before lockdown, many older people experience loneliness, even if they’re living with their father – or perhaps that’s why life is so trying!

6. Planet Gliese 589

PLANET GLIESE 589 by John Lamb with Alison MacFarlane, Gregor Davidson and Mark Kydd. With no vaccine against the virus and climate change out of control, scientists explore space for a safe place.

4. The Walk

The Walk by Elaine Campbell with Elizabeth Millbank, 82-year-old Dina takes her allowed exercise by walking through the crazy streets of Edinburgh's West End

3. Hard Travelling

Hard Travelling by James Brown with Charlie West, Debbie Cannon, Gregor Davidson and Kirsty Punton. Lots of men talk to their cars but not many have a Citroen van that answers back!

2. Leaving This Shore

Leaving This Shore by Vincent Maguire with Adam Tomkins, Laverne Edmonds, Ryaan Ali and Charles Donnelly. West coast fisherman, Donald, has to cope with a painful and momentous change in his life

1. Duchess of Kirkcaldy

The Duchess of Kirkcaldy by Alan Mountford with Mark Kydd. A man awaits a train at Aberdour Station. He remembers the woman he loved - and a Beatles song.