Touring!

We are in the midst of planning a tour of 'The Idiot at the Wall'. 

If you would like to get in touch, please email us at firstbicycletheatre@gmail.com. 

In the meantime, check out our trailer...

'The Idiot at the Wall' a 'Surefire Hit', says The Scotsman!

Photography by John Roberts

'The Idiot at the Wall' is listed in today's Scotsman (August 4th) as being one of their '28 Surefire Hits of the Fringe'! So thrilled! Described as "a chilling and haunting dramatisation of a traditional Scottish ballad", and "well worth a ticket". After a wonderful first preview yesterday, we are excited to present our second and final preview today, at The Bedlam, 3:25! Tickets are selling fast!

25% of the way there!!

In under a week, we have managed to raise almost a quarter of our target on Sponsume!! Thank you SO much to all who have donated so far. If you would like to support 'The Idiot at the Wall' at the EIFF, then follow the link below! Thank you! Love First Bicycle xxx

http://www.sponsume.com/project/idiot-wall-edinburgh-fringe-2012

Production Photography by Daniel William Hill

Thank you to Daniel William Hill for these beautiful production shots from 'The Idiot at the Wall'.

Tim Barrow, Lucy Goldie

Angela Milton, Elspeth Turner, Lucy Goldie, Simon Eilbeck and Tim Barrow

Tim Barrow, Elspeth Turner

Lucy Goldie, Elspeth Turner

More to follow.....

Support us in our journey to The Fringe 2012!

Hello! With a few weeks left to go before the start of The Edinburgh International Fringe Festival, we are seeking support in our efforts to get 'The Idiot at the Wall' onto a world stage. Check out our Sponsume Page to see more details on the project, our funding goals, and to make a donation. Sponsme is a fast, safe, and secure way of supporting a project, and ALL support - big or small - is extremely helpful to us, and gratefully received!! Thank you for showing love for our play!

Fringe here we come!!

We are delighted to announce that 'The Idiot at the Wall' will run at The Bedlam Theatre for the duration of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2012 More details to follow, but here's some productions shots, in the meantime...

Caught in the act! Angela Milton, Elspeth Turner, Lucy Goldie, Simon Eilbeck and Tim Barrow

Cold and watery bed....Lucy Goldie and Elspeth Turner

Three chances left to catch the original production of 'The Idiot at the Wall'!

Three shows left! Book now at www.eusalive.co.uk Check out these pics to get you in the mood for a magical transportation to another time and another place.....

Below: Tim Barrow and Brian Thomson as Henry Rathbone and John Mackenzie

Simon Eilbeck and Elspeth Turner as Uistean Mackenzie and Odhran Mackenzie

Angela Milton and Elspeth Turner as Effie Nicholson and Odhran Mackenzie

Lucy Goldie and Elspeth Turner as Sorcha Mackenzie and Odhran Mackenzie

Rehearsing the fight....Effie kicks some ass....

Opening Weekend and the reviews are in!

This past week has been exhilirating, challenging, and downright fantastic for First Bicycle!! We presented our baby, 'The Idiot at the Wall' to Edinburgh audiences, and have had wonderful responses. Today the reviews came in, with some insightful and interesting things to say about the play and production. Check them out!

Joyce McMillan at The Scotsman

Seth Ewin for British Theatre Guide

Amy Taylor for The Public Reviews

Come and see for yourself this Thursday, Friday or Saturday, 7.30 at The Pleasance Edinburgh !

Preview 'The Idiot at the Wall'

Last night was a wonderful preview of 'The Idiot at the Wall', and we've gotten so much great feedback already - thank you. We did battle with the Beltane Drummers who were downstairs....congratulations to the cast and musicians Murdo Turner and Lucy Macrae who stayed in the play and kept telling the story - it was great to overcome the obstacle together! Bring on tonight! Pictures coming soon!

E minor?! Are you mad??

In Saturday's rehearsal we had the pleasure of working with amazing musicians Murdo Turner (aka big bruv) and Tim du Feu. Tim of the fire!! They've been teaching us Gaelic working songs....milking songs, waulking songs, churning songs....loads of lovely music. See pics below, of the cast learning some Puirt a beul - which is Gaelic for 'mouth music' - great for dancing to!! Also, see us rehearsing a scene....

Below: Tim du Feu on the fiddle....playwright makes good music stand

Can't wait to get dancin'!

"We thought the war was over....but it seems the enemy is still at large..." Mr. Rathbone (Tim Barrow) is no match for these Hebridean women.....

"RUN!!"

Uh-oh....

Building in progress

Gaelic Lessons with Mr. Turner!

Check out Allan Turner schooling us in the Gaelic!

Below: Teaching Angela Milton, aka Effie Nicholson....

Teaching Simon Eilbeck...."You're getting it fine! Keep it up Uistean!"

Allan Turner's jokes are famous

An impossibly beautiful and expressive language....tricky to get your mouth around!

Building 'The Wall'!!

Yesterday was truly an overwhelmingly exciting day for FirstBicycle....Angie and I were squealing with excitement all over town! At one end of our rehearsal space, Carpenter and Set Designer began building the set for 'The Idiot at the Wall', which will open in 3 weeks at The Pleasance!! http://eusalive.co.uk/whats-on/2012/06/ - while at the other end, the cast rehearsed an ensemble scene and soaked up the wisdom of director Emily Reutlinger....I think we were all giddy on the great energy in the whole space. We're making things. This is theatre!! What a day....thank you Universe...love from FirstBicycle xxxx

Here's some pics of Set Designer Eve Murray and Carpenter Jez Jackson (possibly the coolest name I've heard in a while....) get to work on 'the wall'....

Above: Simon Eilbeck gets acquainted with his wall!

Below: I know I shouldn't spy, but....

And rehearsing a man-to-man scene....actors Tim Barrow and Brian Thomson dive into a whole new scene I just wrote....brave, brave boys....

Below: Emily Reutlinger....the wise woman...'the writer has left the building'...

The Idiot at the Wall - details announced!

First Bicycle in association with Falling Cutlery present Elspeth Turner’s debut play, The Idiot at the Wall.

“Cursing the cream is one thing. But the air in a man’s lungs….that comes and goes as it pleases.”

Set on a Hebridean island in the wake of World War One, this drama sees a traditional way of life struggle against the encroachment of the modern world, and challenges us to consider the power of prophecy over reason. Gaelic songs of the period enrich a score composed and arranged by Murdo Turner and Tim du Feu.

Celebrating her personal island heritage, and blending English with Gaelic, Turner’s play traverses myth and reality to present a haunting tale all but lost to the modern world. This production roots itself in traditional Hebridean storytelling, and offers an authentic new voice in Scottish theatre.

The Pleasance Theatre, 60 Pleasance, Edinburgh
31st May & 1st June; 7th, 8th, 9th June 2012 - 7.30 pm

For tickets visit www.eusalive.co.uk or call 0131 650 4673

Visit the event Facebook page

For more information on the production's development, follow our blog.
For more information on Elspeth Turner, visit www.elspethturner.com

What happens at a ceilidh!

The latest from rehearsals...

"Sitting on ma wall..." Simon Eilbeck in character.

Outshout the wind... Brian Thomson takes to his feet!

Rehearsal pics - "I'm collecting fertilizer"

Rehearsal latest - Elspeth Turner and Lucy Goldie work with director Emily Reutlinger in rehearsals for The Idiot at the Wall. Never before have sisters been so close!

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Screech! We're working on this...coming soon!