The Henderson Theatre in Shotts will host a bright new play, which takes its inspiration from the writer’s experience in one community.
Theatre, food, song, bingo and karaoke combine in The Other Side of the River, written and directed by Lisa Nicoll.
Originally commissioned as part of the 2021 Paisley City of Culture bid, this compelling, accessible and upbeat new play focuses on a working class community’s fight to be noticed for who they are, not what government stats, figures or media headlines tell them they are.
Other Side of the River follows driven but lonely city girl Beth who is desperate to get a juicy article published so she can be noticed by her boss, her arch-rival Suzy McIntyre and to hear her sick Dad say he is proud of her before he passes away.
Beth enters small Scottish town Ailm (strength, endurance and resilience in Celtic language) - which has been described as one of the worst towns to live in by the media - in the hope she will find a ‘good’ story that will make her feel successful and noticed.
The play’s characters are inspired by Lisa’s and In Motion’s time working with the Ferguslie Park community in Paisley.
Lisa said: “There is no doubt that there are struggles and obstacles in life and in communities but it is about the attitude and resilience communities have to overcome these and how people pull together and make use of what they have.
“We are living in a world highly dominated by technology and social media and being embraced by these communities makes you realise that as human beings we need to speak, hug and listen to people in the flesh.
“This play began life before the current cost of living crisis and feels more apt than ever that it is being staged now.
“The Other Side of the River is a play to gather people together, to see positives amongst adversities and to take eyes away from screens, even for just a short while.”
The play will take to the stage at the Henderson Theatre - Shotts Community Education Centre on Friday, April 21, at 1pm.
Tickets are available here.
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