BY MARTIN TRAVERS
Edinburgh, 1774. Alone in a filthy cell, a young man pulls straw from his mattress and weaves a crown.
Crown of Straw tells the extraordinary true story of Robert Fergusson, the trailblazing writer who inspired Robert Burns. Exploring his pioneering work, lively songs and tragic death, this rehearsed reading celebrated the life of one of Scotland’s most important, and forgotten, poets.
Thursday 20 June - 7.30pm, Biggar Corn Exchange
Friday 21 June - 7.30pm, Crawford Village Hall
Saturday 22 June - 7.30pm, Leadhills Village Hall
Crown of Straw
BY MARTIN TRAVERS
Edinburgh, 1774. Alone in a filthy cell, a young man pulls straw from his mattress and weaves a crown.
His raucous life of wit, poetry and song has ended in a vicious shove down a stone staircase. Wracked with pain and haunted by delusions, he wonders if anyone will remember him.
Thursday 20 June - 7.30pm,
Biggar Corn Exchange
Friday 21 June - 7.30pm,
Crawford Village Hall
Saturday 22 June - 7.30pm,
Leadhills Village Hall
Crown of Straw
BY MARTIN TRAVERS
Edinburgh, 1774. Alone in a filthy Bedlam cell, a young man pulls straw from his mattress and weaves himself a crown.
His raucous life of wit, poetry and song has ended in a vicious shove down a stone staircase. Wracked with pain and haunted by delusions, he wonders if anyone will remember him.
Crown of Straw tells the extraordinary true story of Robert Fergusson, the trailblazing writer who inspired Robert Burns. Exploring his pioneering work, lively songs and tragic death, this rehearsed reading celebrated the life of one of Scotland’s most important, and forgotten, poets.
Thursday 20 June - 7.30pm, Biggar Corn Exchange
Friday 21 June - 7.30pm, Crawford Village Hall
Saturday 22 June - 7.30pm, Leadhills Village Hall
"Very moving, clever storytelling. Uplifting music. It moved me to tears at the end."
CROWN OF STRAW
"This needs to be a full production. Fantastic story. Very gripping. Such a fantastic take on mental health."
CROWN OF STRAW
"Funny and moving. Such a privilege to see original, powerful live drama so close to home"
CROWN OF STRAW
"Very moving, clever storytelling. Uplifting music. It moved me to tears at the end."
CROWN OF STRAW
"This needs to be a full production. Fantastic story. Very gripping. Such a fantastic take on mental health."
CROWN OF STRAW
"Funny and moving. Such a privilege to see original, powerful live drama so close to home"
CROWN OF STRAW
Click to see highlights from the reading
Crown of Straw was a community rehearsed reading.
Our rehearsed reading of Crown Of Straw by Martin Travers took place in Biggar, Crawford and Leadhills in June 2024.
The cast included three professional actors, student actors from New College Lanarkshire, members of Corn Exchange Young Performers and community actors from Biggar Theatre Workshop. Crown of Straw was part of Unlocking Scots, Braw Clan's development programme funded by the National Lottery, and was created with support from the Scottish Society of Playwrights’ SSP@50 Fellowship Awards.
We tell spell-binding stories, in your village hall.
You know how almost no plays in Scots are put on in Scottish theatres?
Well, what Braw Clan does is make new theatre in Scots, inspired by the people of Clydesdale, and we tour it to rural communities in the south of Scotland. We bring world-class performers and powerful local stories to your village hall so you can enjoy them with your family and neighbours.
In fact, someone who came to a Braw Clan performance said “After watching the play, I feel re-energised about my village and sharing our stories."
Crown of Straw was a community rehearsed reading.
Our rehearsed reading of Crown Of Straw by Martin Travers took place in Biggar, Crawford and Leadhills in June 2024.
The cast included three professional actors, student actors from New College Lanarkshire, members of Corn Exchange Young Performers and community actors from Biggar Theatre Workshop. Crown of Straw was part of Unlocking Scots, Braw Clan's development programme funded by the National Lottery, and was created with support from the Scottish Society of Playwrights’ SSP@50 Fellowship Awards.
We tell spell-binding stories, in your village hall.
You know how almost no plays in Scots are put on in Scottish theatres?
Well, what Braw Clan does is make new theatre in Scots, inspired by the people of Clydesdale, and we tour it to rural communities in the south of Scotland. We bring world-class performers and powerful local stories to your village hall so you can enjoy them with your family and neighbours.
In fact, someone who came to a Braw Clan performance said “After watching the play, I feel re-energised about my village and sharing our stories."
Kieran McKenzie as Robert Fergusson,
Fletcher Mathers as Mither
Ensemble members Kirsty Stewart, Sophie Fleming, Nina Murnin,
Niamh Cox, Jay Maclennan and Jennifer Groves
"Wonderful to learn about a poet unknown to me, brought to life in an engaging and authentic way."
CROWN OF STRAW
"Thoroughly enjoyed the reading. Very impressed by the storytelling which merges music and drama."
CROWN OF STRAW
"Really enjoyable and easy to follow as non-Scots speaker. Interesting story."
CROWN OF STRAW
"Wonderful to learn about a poet unknown to me, brought to life in an engaging and authentic way."
CROWN OF STRAW
"Thoroughly enjoyed the reading. Very impressed by the storytelling which merges music and drama."
CROWN OF STRAW
"Really enjoyable and easy to follow as non-Scots speaker. Interesting story."
CROWN OF STRAW
"Without Robert Fergusson,
we wouldn't have Robert Burns."
Martin Travers, Playwright
October 16th 2024 is the 250th anniversary of the death of Robert Fergusson - a poet whose significance is tragically overlooked. Although they never met, Robert Burns was deeply inspired by him and considered Fergusson "his elder brother in the muse." It's no exaggeration to say that without Robert Fergusson, we wouldn't have the work of Robert Burns.
Fergusson blazed onto the literary scene in 1768. Almost all his Scots poems were produced in a creative whirlwind lasting two years. A head injury led to a rapid decline. He was incarcerated in Bedlam and died in a straw-littered cell aged 24. I first heard about Robert Ferguson when I was researching a play about Robert Burns. When I read that Burns had paid for a headstone for Fergusson’s unmarked grave, a fire was lit in my imagination. I’ve been captivated by Fergusson’s life and work ever since.
This rehearsed reading of Crown of Straw is supported by Creative Scotland and the Scottish Society of Playwrights. Being awarded a SSP@50 fellowship, which celebrates the society's 50th anniversary, is a huge honour. And working with Professor Rhona Brown and Dr Amy Wilcockson at the University of Glasgow on the research for Crown of Straw has been a genuine thrill and pleasure. Their enthusiasm, insight and support have been amazing.
I’m also delighted that Braw Clan is working with director Jordanna O'Neill and musical director John Kielty, whose work we've been following for years. Together with our professional actors, community actors and acting students, we'll bring Fergusson's world alive. I can’t wait to see it.
"Without Robert Fergusson,
we wouldn't have Robert Burns."
Martin Travers, Playwright
October 16th 2024 is the 250th anniversary of the death of Robert Fergusson - a poet whose significance is tragically overlooked. Although they never met, Robert Burns was deeply inspired by him and considered Fergusson "his elder brother in the muse." It's no exaggeration to say that without Robert Fergusson, we wouldn't have the work of Robert Burns.
Fergusson blazed onto the literary scene in 1768. Almost all his Scots poems were produced in a creative whirlwind lasting two years. A head injury led to a rapid decline. He was incarcerated in Bedlam and died in a straw-littered cell aged 24. I first heard about Robert Ferguson when I was researching a play about Robert Burns. When I read that Burns had paid for a headstone for Fergusson’s unmarked grave, a fire was lit in my imagination. I’ve been captivated by Fergusson’s life and work ever since.
This rehearsed reading of Crown of Straw is supported by Creative Scotland and the Scottish Society of Playwrights. Being awarded a SSP@50 fellowship, which celebrates the society's 50th anniversary, is a huge honour. And working with Professor Rhona Brown and Dr Amy Wilcockson at the University of Glasgow on the research for Crown of Straw has been a genuine thrill and pleasure. Their enthusiasm, insight and support have been amazing.
I’m also delighted that Braw Clan is working with director Jordanna O'Neill and musical director John Kielty, whose work we've been following for years. Together with our professional actors, community actors and acting students, we'll bring Fergusson's world alive. I can’t wait to see it.
Cast & Company
Robert Fergusson
Mither, Wilkie, Tenducci
Lang Sandy, Hary, William Woods
Young Robert
Ensemble
Ensemble
Ensemble
Ensemble
Ensemble
Ensemble
Ensemble
Ensemble
Ensemble
Ensemble
Director
Musical Director
Production Manager
Stage Manager
Cast Support
Front Of House Manager
Artist
Research Consultant
Research Assistant
Playwright, Creative Producer
Creative Director
More from Unlocking Scots
More from Unlocking Scots
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