Theatre & Film

 

Since the last album I’ve been off doing all sorts of things……

I began acting professionally in 1998 on my first television job with STV ‘Machair’, the Gaelic soap. Yep, every Gaelic actor known to man was involved in it. It was fairly scary, no time for rehearsal, no time to relax before shooting and then it was axed just as my character’s part was getting a bit more interesting. WPC Seonag MacFarlane had to be shelved.

My theatre career began through singing but if the truth be told I had wanted to act since I was very young. I loved being on stage I just wasn’t sure I had the courage for it. Experience counts for a lot and I’d loads of experience singing and the best teachers so that was no problem but acting is a different matter - but you learn and that’s what I’ve been doing regarding acting for the last few years living and learning.

I started off acting in Theatre with Dogstar Theatre Company in their award winning productions ‘The Captain’s Collection’ and ‘Seven Ages’.(www.dogstartheatre.co.uk) Dogstar began by performing the writing of Hamish Macdonald who is now Artistic Director. He is a wonderful writer having now written 5 plays for the company, as well as several novels and novellas. ’The Captain’s Collection’ became an award-winning BBC Radio Scotland series produced by Bruce Macgregor. Recently we took his play ‘Seven Ages’ to Ukraine. It was quite a trip.

“…terrifically well done…ambitious, stylish and very popular, and a timely reminder of the quality of performers all over Scotland…”
The Times on SEVEN AGES

From here I went on to work with Scottish Ballet, Dance Productions, Theatre Hebrides, Birds of Paradise, Rightlines Productions, TOSG& theatrecollective@highland.

McCormack has "a sensitive dynamic revealing a gift for comedy and movement". The Scotsman 2001 

Some of the productions were humorous, some tragic, some bi-lingual but all engaging.

Of ‘Seven Hunters’: ‘There’s a powerful interweaving of the show’s various languages, not only Gaelic and English, …and fine singing and dance led by the great Alyth McCormack as the wife of Donald MacArthur’. Joyce Macmillan The Scotsman (July 03)

 

In 2003 I took part in Wee Stories acclaimed production ‘Arthur – the Story of a king’ (www.weestoriestheatre.org) which toured extensively in Scotland, England and Ireland. It also went on to win the Equity Award for Best Show for Children and Young People in the 2004 TMA Theatre Awards .

‘Not since Monty Python has King Arthur been this much fun. Absolutely top class theatre’ Sunday herald
“A powerful reminder of all that is good about theatre" The Times’

In 2004 I was asked to play the leading female role in the musical ‘On Eagle’s wing’ directed by Ian McIlhenny that opened in Belfast Odyssey arena to 6,500. It was quite a spectacle and great fun. There is something to be said for working with dancers - all that energy flying about. Some great friends were made and it’s a time that certainly will not be forgotten.

“Most memorable is the remarkable singing and haunting presence of Hebridean Alyth McCormack as the universal mother figure, the guiding spirit of this perilous odyssey to a place where cultural difference is celebrated not condemned.”
Jane Coyle
The Irish Times

Then there was Cameron Macintosh’s ‘Quest for a Highland Musical’ – probably one of the most interesting weeks I’ve had. (Ullapool may never be the same again). Having made it through to the final after being whittled down from 150 entries worldwide, 5 excerpts from 5 musicals were taken by 5 groups of actors, 5 directors, 5 musical directors, a band of musicians, technicians and numerous others (that were needed to keep this show on the go) settled in Ullapool for a week to see battle commence. The aim was to get together a half-hour performance from each piece. Learn dialogue, songs, stage it, tech it and then perform it on the Friday and Saturday nights in front of a voting audience and a panel of judges.

It was a great week. Ullapool really hasn’t seen anything like it but really got into the spirit. Locals were heard giving their opinions on the proceedings on street corners and the bars certainly were sad to see us go. The wining Musical – The Sundowe – was written by the Kielty Brothers, and their prize was to have their musical staged. It opened in Eden Court, Inverness in December. The Musical I was involved in is ‘Whisky Kisses’ written by Dave Smith& Euan Martin(Rightlines) with music by Jim Bryce and we really had a blast. I knew we were in capable hands from day 1 with James Brining of Dundee Rep directing and also Hilary Brooks as our Musical Director. There’s much interest in the show. Since Ullapool we have had to other 2 week long sessions working on staging, storyline and the songs and are doing our best to have it staged. Rightlines - our production company - is a registered charity so there is a fund being set up where folk may contribute to its staging. If you would like to contribute or even just find out more about the show please check out. www.rightlines.net

‘WK’ was the only Highland entry to make it through to the final – can’t help but be proud. A documentary of the week and the whole competition was filmed and shown at the end of last year.

So over the last while I’ve played everything from the spoilt bride to a prostitute, several boys (must be the physique), a referee to a cunning Cook, a distillery owner to the Lady of the Lake.

All challenging: all entertaining: all fun.

 

I completed my short film ‘Rebel Song’ directed by Simon Arthur, set in 17th century rural Scotland, when women didn’t have rights as now, when without husband or father they would be left to the poor house. It was fun to film despite the cold.

And in summer 2007 I took part in an amazing performance about St Kilda. ‘St Kilda – Island of the Bird People’ took place in 5 different countries incorporating film beamed via satellite, theatre, dance and acrobatics. Sounds fairly crazy? It wasn’t, it was utterly beautiful. I had great faith in our director Thierry Poquet and am delighted we are getting to do it again. It was a joy to experience the theatre practiseof other countries. I learnt a lot working with actors, acrobats, singers and directors from France, Germany, Finland, Belgium, Chile and Scotland.

Will keep you posted in the NEWS section.