The Sundowe
Encyclopedia
The Sundowe is a musical written by Edinburgh
-based writers and performers John, James and Gerry Kielty and featuring their band The Martians
. The Sundowe was entered into the "Highland Quest For A New Musical" competition in early 2006, and was announced as the winner in July 2006. It was then produced by Cameron Mackintosh
as a full stage musical, with the world premiere on 29 November 2007 at the new Eden Court Theatre in Inverness
, Scotland.
Following a three week run at Eden Court it toured the Scottish Highlands
in January and February 2008.
The story line centres on The Martians
themselves, as their street busking
is interrupted by vampires, the local council and the return of dead souls. The musical is part comedy
, part pathos, and includes references to modern Scottish politics, Greyfriars Bobby
, street busking and ancient Scottish history.
It has been described as "Shaun of the Dead meets Thriller", and draws influence from cult science fiction such as Doctor Who
and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Rory - John Kielty
Jimmy - Gerry Kielty
Harry - Houston
The Authorities:
Roothby - Crawford Logan
Madam Godwin - Cora Bissett
First Minister - Harry Ward
Singing Policeman - Scott Garnham
Ambience Brigade:
Mr Jappy - Scott Garnham
Mr Geonst - Nick Underwood
The Vampyres:
Erich - Peter Kelly
Claus - Mark McDonnell
The Queen - Anne Kidd
The Prey:
Virgin - Jennifer Rhodes
Another Virgin - Tammy Joelle
Yet another Virgin - Cora Bissett
The Others:
Mum - Anne Kidd
Doorman - Nick Underwood
Aiden - Scott Garnham
Girl - Jennifer Rhodes
Husband - Scott Garnham
Wife - Cora Bissett
Free Church Minister - Peter Kelly
Reporter - Jennifer Rhodes
Mr Cunningham - Mark McDonnell
Lily - Rachel Marr/ Caitlin Marr
Other parts played by members of the cast.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
-based writers and performers John, James and Gerry Kielty and featuring their band The Martians
The Martians (band)
The Martians are an Edinburgh, Scotland based rock band, consisting of brothers John, Gerry and James Kielty. Their musical The Sundowe won the Scottish "Highland Quest For A New Musical" competition in July 2006...
. The Sundowe was entered into the "Highland Quest For A New Musical" competition in early 2006, and was announced as the winner in July 2006. It was then produced by Cameron Mackintosh
Cameron Mackintosh
Sir Cameron Anthony Mackintosh is a British theatrical producer notable for his association with many commercially successful musicals. At the height of his success in 1990, he was described as being "the most successful, influential and powerful theatrical producer in the world" by the New York...
as a full stage musical, with the world premiere on 29 November 2007 at the new Eden Court Theatre in Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
, Scotland.
Following a three week run at Eden Court it toured the Scottish Highlands
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
in January and February 2008.
The story line centres on The Martians
The Martians (band)
The Martians are an Edinburgh, Scotland based rock band, consisting of brothers John, Gerry and James Kielty. Their musical The Sundowe won the Scottish "Highland Quest For A New Musical" competition in July 2006...
themselves, as their street busking
Busking
Street performance or busking is the practice of performing in public places, for gratuities, which are generally in the form of money and edibles...
is interrupted by vampires, the local council and the return of dead souls. The musical is part comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
, part pathos, and includes references to modern Scottish politics, Greyfriars Bobby
Greyfriars Bobby
Greyfriars Bobby was a Skye Terrier who became known in 19th-century Edinburgh for spending 14 years guarding the grave of his owner, John Gray , until he died himself on 14 January 1872...
, street busking and ancient Scottish history.
It has been described as "Shaun of the Dead meets Thriller", and draws influence from cult science fiction such as Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Original cast
The Martians:Rory - John Kielty
Jimmy - Gerry Kielty
Harry - Houston
The Authorities:
Roothby - Crawford Logan
Madam Godwin - Cora Bissett
First Minister - Harry Ward
Singing Policeman - Scott Garnham
Ambience Brigade:
Mr Jappy - Scott Garnham
Mr Geonst - Nick Underwood
The Vampyres:
Erich - Peter Kelly
Claus - Mark McDonnell
The Queen - Anne Kidd
The Prey:
Virgin - Jennifer Rhodes
Another Virgin - Tammy Joelle
Yet another Virgin - Cora Bissett
The Others:
Mum - Anne Kidd
Doorman - Nick Underwood
Aiden - Scott Garnham
Girl - Jennifer Rhodes
Husband - Scott Garnham
Wife - Cora Bissett
Free Church Minister - Peter Kelly
Reporter - Jennifer Rhodes
Mr Cunningham - Mark McDonnell
Lily - Rachel Marr/ Caitlin Marr
Other parts played by members of the cast.
External links
- "The Sundowe" official site
- Eden Court website article about "The Sundowe"
- "The Martians", real life band of the authors
- The Martians fansite
- Daily Telegraph review by Mark Brown of The Sundowe at the Eden Court
- Sunday Herald review by Mark Brown of The Sundowe at the Eden Court
- Herald review of The Sundowe at Eden Court
- Highland News review of The Sundowe