The Silver Darlings

Aberdeen Performing Arts' second home-grown production follows an ordinary family in extraordinary circumstance as they struggle to adapt to making a living from the sea following the highland clearances. Distilling Neil M Gunn’s gargantuan novel The Silver Darlings into a two-hour stage play was a challenge successfully met by dramatist Peter Arnott.

This episodic piece, set on the formidable north-east coast, is well paced and packed with action. A storytelling chorus leads the audience through the narrative, adding humour and commenting on the characters. The creative team of director Kenny Ireland, designer Hayden Griffin, and John Harris on lighting use the same tools to tell the story as APA's debut production, Sunset Song, but with more control and to far better effect.

A first-class production is led by a superbly talented ensemble cast, with Meg Fraser’s outstanding performance as the central character Catrine. Her scenes with Ann Louise Ross’ Kirsty and Tom McGovern’s Roddie are packed with feeling and memorable moments, while Finn, captured skilfully by Finn Den Hertog, plays the heroic role central to the seafaring drama. This is Scottish theatre with a compassionate heart and an articulate voice.