ANGUS MCPHEE - Weaver of Grass


ANGUS MCPHEE or MACPHEE was a crofter from Uist who spent almost 50 years in a Highland psychiatric hospital. During this time he chose not to speak - instead he wove a series of incredible costumes out of grass. These he hung on trees in the hospital grounds.

This blog follows the progress of HORSE + BAMBOO THEATRE as they develop and tour a show about Angus....

Monday 21 January 2013

New website coming - slowly

We've felt the need to redesign the Horse + Bamboo website for a while now, but haven't had the money to do it. In the end I decided that I'll undertake the work myself - I last made a website quite sometime ago, and in the meantime content management systems, widgets, plug-ins, sliders and what-nots have arrived and made everything rather more complicated. But anyway I'm in the thick of it and I'm working on the Angus page. Including finding a fresh photo or two....



Friday 11 January 2013

More than talk....


This week we received a copy of 'The Puppet Master' magazine - and in it was a well illustrated two page article and review of 'Angus - Weaver of Grass' by Michael Dixon

Michael had seen the show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and he noted that the 2012 festival represented 'many of Britain's best puppetry companies as well as some relatively unknowns' and he goes on to say that 'One show in particular this year which I was fortunate enough to catch on its opening performance was Angus - Weaver of Grass by the brilliant Horse + Bamboo Theatre.'

The review notes that 'Instead of extensive dialogue we are treated to a bilingual performance much of which is in Gaelic' but that 'There is minimal dialogue in the play; music, mime and song are used instead. The non-verbal nature of the their work in this instance lends another dimension and reflection on Angus's own life of silence'. It goes on to say that 'The story is often gentle and moving, but during the scenes depicting the electro-shock therapy that Angus receives in hospital it becomes harrowing and dark' and that Mairi Morrison's 'A capella singing...carries the production from one scene to another....This added to the wonderful sets, projection, recreations of Angus' weaving and the beautifully evocative masks, take us on a journey that is difficult to forget'. 

The article concludes by describing Horse + Bamboo as 'a national treasure' with Angus -Weaver of Grass being 'another memorable show to add to their repertoire of critically acclaimed performances. He says '..at the time of writing there is talk of the possibility of another tour in 2013'. As readers of the blog will know, this is more than talk - it's going to happen and our Esther is beginning the process of booking venues.