Part of the celebrations for the 750th anniversary of the birth of Robert the Bruce.

The brutality, madness and fear of medieval, man-to-man, combat is brought into sharp focus in a play retelling the actual events of the battles fought by the Scots, commanded by Sir William Wallace, against the English invaders in 1295 – 1307. There are no blue painted faces; no fantasy French Princesses and no tartan anachronisms to be found in this presentation. The play follows the Tanner; a common man, drafted into the army of his country to defend his family & friends from the brutal incursion of the English King Edward. This play sticks to the facts – the blood – the screaming – the death – the loss of all he held dear. The cruelty and barbarism faced by and enacted on the men of the opposing armies is laid bare for all to see. This is not a play for the feint hearted or queasy.

The Tanner is a one man play about a violent historical period in Scots history; written and performed by Alex McSherry, adapted with permission from an original story by Stuart Hepburn. The play predates the Mel Gibson Hollywood epic ‘Braveheart’ by some years and does not indulge in the romanticising, glamourising, ‘modern interpretation’ of real events so well loved in the film industry. The play has been verified as historically accurate by the University of Edinburgh department of History and pulls no punches. The language used is rough and direct, as you would expect from a ‘common’ soldier and, therefore, could offend some of a more delicate disposition. It is therefore advised that the audience be restricted to 18+ (or teens in the company of a responsible adult). The play has received awards for performances in the UK and abroad and will be touring venues and communities all over Scotland during 2024.

“McSherry is a master storyteller, electrifying and mesmerizing. The tanner is crude, brutal, and defiant, bloodied, but unbowed, at times a twinkle in his eye, at times a tear.” LA Theatre Review

There will be a Q & A session after the show, to discuss both the performance and the history behind it- including information on the life of Robert the Bruce.