For Argyll

Last weekend cries of ‘Bloody Murder!’ and ‘Vile Outrage!’ echoed about the crannocks and tufts of Ness Island in the centre of Inverness. This was no contemporary display of murderous terror, but a depiction of historical events, in particular the crimes of the Duke of Argyll in the 17th Century, by Argyll’s own Walking Theatre Company.

When interviewed by The Press & Journal, Campbell Hughes (playing the ill-fated Duke) was heard to comment, “We shall be instructing our audience in the art of war, uncovering the Duke’s perfidy and putting him to a timely end …” Guided around the island the audience became performers, they wielded claymores, they restrained and finally denounced the errant Campbell Clan Chief. And reviews? Well, the huge grins of all the participants as the performance ended was all that needed to be observed to tell tale of a great success.

Picture courtesy of the Press and Journal, Aberdeen

The Walking Theatre Company were taking part in the very first international Theatre Festival in Inverness, Drama Na h-Alba.