The 1983 film LOCAL HERO has been adapted for the stage and will play in Edinburgh next year before transferring to London's Old Vic Theatre. David Greig and Bill Forsyth co-wrote the adaptation, with music and lyrics by Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits...
The premiere production of Local Hero, a collaboration between the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and the Old Vic, will run in Edinburgh from 23 March to 20 April 2019, then transfer to London in June (opening date TBC) for a run to 31 August 2019.
The stage adaptation is co-written by the Lyceum’s artistic director Greig and multi-award-winning director and writer Forsyth (who wrote and directed the screen original), with music and lyrics by acclaimed composer and Glasgow-born producer Knopfler – founder of internationally celebrated band Dire Straits, whose album Brothers in Arms is one of the top 20 highest selling albums in UK history – and who has previously composed music for films including The Princess Bride, Wag the Dog and Comfort and Joy.
Local Hero is a 1983 Scottish comedy-drama film written and directed by Forsyth and produced by David Puttnam which centres on an American oil company representative who is sent to the fictional village of Ferness on the west coast of Scotland to purchase the town and surrounding property for his company. The film starred Peter Riegert, Denis Lawson, Fulton Mackay and Burt Lancaster.
The stage musical is directed by John Crowley, with set and costumes by Scot Pask, lighting by Paule Constable, sound by Paul Arditti, video by Luke Halls, musical supervision by Dave Milligan and music direction by Phil Bateman. Casting is yet to be announced.
The Lyceum’s artistic director David Greig says:
“God, this is exciting! I’m thrilled The Lyceum will be working with a team of this calibre to make Local Hero. John Crowley is a director on top of his game. From The Pillowman to Brooklyn, he has shown himself a master of complex emotional material. I was recently privileged to see his production of The Present on Broadway with Cate Blanchett, and it was one of the defining experiences of my theatre-going life. Scott Pask is a visionary stage designer who is at home with an intimate play as he is with a huge Broadway musical. The Lyceum audience are in for a treat to see his work in our gorgeous theatre. Paul Arditti worked with me on the crazy, surreal soundscape of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory and Paule Constable has lit some of the most beautiful shows in London’s West End in recent years. Together with Luke Halls’ video work having pushed boundaries at the Paralympics and in Royal Opera House, we have a world-class creative team in whom to trust the legacy of Bill’s much-loved film.”
The Old Vic’s artistic director Matthew Warchus added: “It’s very exciting to see Bill Forsyth’s masterpiece entrusted to such a classy line-up of international creative talent.”
John Crowley’s stage work includes The Present, Anton Chekhov’s Platonov adapted by Andrew Upton and starring Cate Blanchett; the London and Broadway runs of Martin McDonagh’s Tony-nominated The Pillowman starring David Tennant; McDonagh’s A Behanding in Spokane on Broadway starring Christopher Walken; the West End production of Love Song, starring Neve Campbell and Cillian Murphy, and the West End run of On An Average Day, starring Woody Harrelson and Kyle MacLachlan. He was
