In Lead
BY MARTIN TRAVERS
"If I see something better this year, I shall be truly blessed."
Donald Stewart, Fringe Review
In Lead
BY MARTIN TRAVERS
"If I see something better this year, I shall be truly blessed."
Donald Stewart, Fringe Review
WORLD PREMIERE
In Lead
BY MARTIN TRAVERS
"If I see something better this year, I shall be truly blessed."
Donald Stewart, Fringe Review
Leadhills, August 1803. Dorothy Wordsworth seeks shelter in a humble lodging house and discovers something no outsider was ever meant to see.
Accompanying her famous brother on a bracing tour of Scotland, she's eager to collect blood-curdling myths, legends and curiosities. The poisonous Grey Glen, where animals run mad and miners convulse, fascinates her as much as the progressive library they've travelled so far to visit.
But as her landlady rants and the curfew bell tolls, Dorothy realises things beyond imagination are unburying themselves. If she listens closely, this place will give up its dark secrets.
Leadhills, August 1803.
Dorothy Wordsworth seeks shelter in a humble lodging house and discovers something no outsider was ever meant to see.
Accompanying her famous brother on a bracing tour of Scotland, she's eager to collect blood-curdling myths, legends and curiosities. The poisonous Grey Glen, where animals run mad and miners convulse, fascinates her as much as the progressive library they've travelled so far to visit.
But as her landlady rants and the curfew bell tolls, Dorothy realises things beyond imagination are unburying themselves. If she listens closely, this place will give up its dark secrets.
Leadhills, August 1803.
Dorothy Wordsworth seeks shelter in a humble lodging house and discovers something no outsider was ever meant to see.
Accompanying her famous brother on a bracing tour of Scotland, she's eager to collect blood-curdling myths, legends and curiosities. The poisonous Grey Glen, where animals run mad and miners convulse, fascinates her as much as the progressive library they've travelled so far to visit.
But as her landlady rants and the curfew bell tolls, Dorothy realises things beyond imagination are unburying themselves. If she listens closely, this place will give up its dark secrets.
8 venues, 565 audience members
Secret Wrapped In Lead toured to 8 venues in Clydesdale from July 19th-29th 2023. The biggest was Loaningdale Arts at just over 100 seats, and the smallest was Roberton Village Hall at 32 seats.
Wednesday 19 July - 7.30pm, Leadhills Village Hall
Friday 21 July - 7.30pm, Loaningdale Arts, Biggar
Saturday 22 July - 7.30pm, Loaningdale Arts, Biggar
BSL Interpreted Performance
Tuesday 25 July - 7.30pm, Thankerton Village Hall
Wednesday 26 July - 7.30pm, Crawford Village Hall
Thursday 27 July - 7.30pm, Roberton Village Hall
Friday 28 July - 7.30pm, Crawfordjohn Village Hall
Saturday 29 July - 7.30pm, Symington Village Hall
8 venues, 565 audience members
Secret Wrapped In Lead toured to 8 venues in Clydesdale from July 19th-29th 2023. The biggest was Loaningdale Arts at just over 100 seats, and the smallest was Roberton Village Hall at 32 seats.
Wednesday 19 July - 7.30pm, Leadhills Village Hall
Friday 21 July - 7.30pm, Loaningdale Arts, Biggar
Saturday 22 July - 7.30pm, Loaningdale Arts, Biggar
BSL Interpreted Performance
Tuesday 25 July - 7.30pm, Thankerton Village Hall
Wednesday 26 July - 7.30pm, Crawford Village Hall
Thursday 27 July - 7.30pm, Roberton Village Hall
Friday 28 July - 7.30pm, Crawfordjohn Village Hall
Saturday 29 July - 7.30pm, Symington Village Hall
"I wrote Secret Wrapped In Lead
because of a feeling that's hard to explain."
Martin Travers, Playwright
I've known about Dorothy Wordsworth's trip to Scotland for years. Living in Lanark I knew that she, her brother William and Samuel Taylor Coleridge had visited the area. I always found that really exciting.
During lockdown I researched her legendary journal, "A Tour Made in Scotland A.D. 1803." I fell in love with her voice. It sings off the page and down through the years. And I loved her grumpy landlady Mrs Otto. As I read, I was wrapped in a feeling that's hard to explain.
It was like looking over a hill into a lost world. A dark world, with its own rules and secrets and where the hardy people and animals are being slowly poisoned by lead.
I wanted to push the unsettling otherworldliness of Leadhills to its limits, so I'm looking forward to your reaction. My hope is that you're left feeling unnerved and surprised. And I doubt you'll ever look at owls the same way.
"I wrote Secret Wrapped In Lead
because of a feeling that's hard to explain."
Martin Travers, Playwright
I've known about Dorothy Wordsworth's trip to Scotland for years. Living in Lanark I knew that she, her brother William and Samuel Taylor Coleridge had visited the area. I always found that really exciting.
During lockdown I researched her legendary journal, "A Tour Made in Scotland A.D. 1803." I fell in love with her voice. It sings off the page and down through the years. And I loved her grumpy landlady Mrs Otto. As I read, I was wrapped in a feeling that's hard to explain.
It was like looking over a hill into a lost world. A dark world, with its own rules and secrets and where the hardy people and animals are being slowly poisoned by lead.
I wanted to push the unsettling otherworldliness of Leadhills to its limits, so I'm looking forward to your reaction. My hope is that you're left feeling unnerved and surprised. And I doubt you'll ever look at owls the same way.
"Impactful, moving, intimate. I really love that this was on my doorstep."
AUDIENCE MEMBER
"What you're doing is building our community. Building on our heritage."
AUDIENCE MEMBER
"Superb. I found comfort in the Scots humour, it reminded me of my Grandad."
AUDIENCE MEMBER
"Impactful, moving, intimate, credible. I really love that this was on my doorstep."
AUDIENCE MEMBER
"What you're doing is building our community. Building on our heritage."
AUDIENCE MEMBER
"Superb. I found comfort in the Scots humour, it reminded me of my Grandad."
AUDIENCE MEMBER
"Impactful, moving, intimate. I really love that this was on my doorstep."
AUDIENCE MEMBER
"What you're doing is building our community. Building on our heritage."
AUDIENCE MEMBER
"Superb. I found comfort in the Scots humour, it reminded me of my Grandad."
AUDIENCE MEMBER
Exhausted & Jubilant →
Production Diary
Your Questions Answered →
Production News
The Fascinating Distance →
Production Diary
Exhausted & Jubilant →
Production Diary
Your Questions Answered →
Production News
The Fascinating Distance →
Production Diary
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."
Pay what you decide, after you've seen the show.
Braw Clan's theatre tickets are priced on a Pay What You Decide basis.
There's no up front cost - you book in advance as usual, but without making a payment. After you've seen the show, you decide what you think it's worth. This removes any risk of paying for something you might not enjoy. If you haven't enjoyed the show at all, you don't have to pay anything.
All money collected (you can pay by card or cash,) helps Braw Clan make more plays, so we hope you'll give generously.
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."
Pay what you decide, after you've seen the show.
Braw Clan's theatre tickets are priced on a Pay What You Decide basis.
There's no up front cost - you book in advance as usual, but without making a payment. After you've seen the show, you decide what you think it's worth. This removes any risk of paying for something you might not enjoy. If you haven't enjoyed the show at all, you don't have to pay anything.
All money collected (you can pay by card or cash,) helps Braw Clan make more plays, so we hope you'll give generously.
"One of the most powerful, affecting theatre experiences I've ever had."
AUDIENCE MEMBER
"Absolutely brilliant. I enjoyed every part as it unfolded. The three actors brought it to life."
AUDIENCE MEMBER
"Haunting and beautiful. Very atmospheric and the Scots had me hanging on every word."
AUDIENCE MEMBER
"One of the most powerful, affecting theatre experiences I've ever had."
AUDIENCE MEMBER
"Absolutely brilliant. I enjoyed every part as it unfolded. The three actors brought it to life."
AUDIENCE MEMBER
"Haunting and beautiful. Very atmospheric and the Scots had me hanging on every word."
AUDIENCE MEMBER
"One of the most powerful, affecting theatre experiences I've ever had."
AUDIENCE MEMBER
"Absolutely brilliant. I enjoyed every part as it unfolded. The three actors brought it to life."
AUDIENCE MEMBER
"Haunting and beautiful. Very atmospheric and the Scots had me hanging on every word."
AUDIENCE MEMBER
Cast & Company
Dorothy Wordsworth
Mrs Otto
Primrose
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
William Wordsworth
Director
Playwright,
Creative Producer
Costume Designer
Filmmaker, Photographer
Company Movement
Production Manager
Sound Designer,
Composer
Music Supervisor
Stage Manager
Marketing Director
Music Supervisor
Stage Manager
Marketing Director
