1902 returns – home and away
Theatre’s going home for Saltire Sky
Saltire Sky’s award-winning EdFringe hit show, 1902, will be visiting its spiritual home this week when it plays Easter Road stadium, for four nights from Thursday to Sunday, ahead of a planned tour.
Nathan Scott-Dunn’s play had its first outing at the Fringe in 2017. It tells the story of Hibernian FC’s victory in the 2016 Scottish Cup Final, beating Rangers – just the 114 years after the club’s previous Scottish Cup triumph in 1902
A scene from 1902 at the Leith Arches during EdFrigne 2021. Pic: Saltire Sky
Football theatre is notoriously hard to bring off – the unscripted drama of a football field might be compelling to witness, but is almost impossible to replicate on a stage.
Scott-Dunn, instead focusses on the supporters’ lives as the big game approaches, seeking out the emotion of young fans in the build up to the game while looking for his drama at their attempts to get their tickets.
He has an eye for strong, working class characters – chancers maybe, but easily relatable none-the-less. Its about the bravado of being part of a gang of lads and the importance of family and friendship. Not to forget a passion for a football team which will be recognisable which ever team you support.
Easter Road
Having first played the Wee Red Bar in 2017 and later Fringes including 2019, then in a semi-immersive performance at Leith Arches in 2021, 1902 will be playing for four nights only in the in the Edinburgh Suite of Easter Road.
The 1902 cast at Leith Arches. Pic: Saltire Sky
“For me, personally, having 1902 performed at Easter Road is very special,” Scott-Dunn told All Edinburgh Theatre.
“My Dad played for Hibs in the 80s and I have always said that if I had a time machine I would go back and watch my Dad play at Easter Road, so to have my Dad watching me play at Easter Road, in a different way, really is a dream come true.
“It was important for me to create a piece of theatre that remained authentic and accessible to the football fans that inspired it – and there’s no better way to do that than bringing it to the spiritual home of Football in Leith.”
Crowdfunder Campaign
Following the performances this week, from Thursday 7 to Sunday 10 April, Saltire Sky is then hoping to take the show out on the road. To this end the company, which doesn’t receive any Creative Scotland funding, is running a Crowdfunder Campaign.
They say: “As a young Company, with little capitol, we have embraced the DIY nature of Fringe Theatre and are looking to take the next step in our journey by taking our work beyond the realms of Edinburgh.”
Listings and links
1902
Edinburgh Suite, Easter Road Stadium, 12 Albion Place, EH7 5QG
Thurs 7 – Sun 10 April 2022
Evening : 7.30pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Support Saltire Sky as they look to reach their stretch target of £8,000 to support a tour of 1902.
Crowdfunder: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/1902-uk-tour
Saltire Sky:
Twitter: @1902SaltireSky
Facebook: @saltireskytheatre.
ENDS
