The Theatre About to Leave Port is the National Theatre of Scotland Bound For Aberdeen
The Shetland Islands ferry Hjaltland will be transformed into a stage today for the remotest launch of a National Theatre of Scotland production. Home is the theme of 10 different productions staged for 55 performances in 10 unusual venues throughout Scotland.
Other Home shows in the North of Scotland area are in a boarded up building in Aberdeen, a glass factory in Caithness, a gallery in Dundee, an arts centre in Inverness and a doll's house in Stornoway.
Home Shetland has been developed by poet Jackie Kay, local writer Jacqui Clark and visual artist Karen Clubb.
In Shetland the "North Boats" represent the sentiments of leaving or returning home like no other venue. Unusually for a play setting, when the day's performances are over the theatre sets sail, on its regular overnight schedule to Aberdeen with all the theatre sets and lights still fixed on board. They are only re-united with the players when the ferry returns from the Scottish mainland two days later.
Playwright Jacqui Clark said: "The inspiration comes from where the play is actually set, the north boats. They mean a lot to us here, they are our lifeline to other places and are strongly associated with memories of home, both in leaving and coming back. And these come out in the performance."
The show on board the ferry is a multi-media event,taking the audience through various locations on board the vessel. The audience will be equipped with headphones listening to poems and tales as they follow the cast through the vessel.
More than hundred members of the islands' community will perform on board the ferry between today and Monday. They are joined by Sandra Voe and John Shedden, both nationally known actors from Shetland.
Sandra Voe said: "To be part of this huge cast for me is a huge thrill. Usually I don't have the chance to work in Shetland, and to come here - after all this time - is a special thrill and makes my heart very warm."
Director of the Shetland production Wils Wilson said the concept behind the National Theatre of Scotland was unique.
"From shop fronts to tenements, museums to ferries, huts to factories, the range of spaces will reflect many different facets of Scottish life and demonstrate that theatre can happen just about anywhere," she said.
The Home Shetland project premieres at 12 noon today on board the Hjaltland ferry with three Thursday performances. The next performaces are on Saturday and Monday when Hjaltland returns to Lerwick Harbour on its regular lifeline run to the Shetland Islands.