Award-winning The Stamping Ground musical featuring songs of Runrig at Stirling’s Macrobert

The 2022 cast perform The Stamping Ground. Photo credit: Ewan Weatherspoon

After winning the Best Music and Sound category at the 2022 CATS Awards, audiences at the Macrobert Arts Centre based at the University of Stirling’s campus have a chance to see The Stamping Ground this spring.

The heart-soaring musical story about love, life and coming home, features new arrangements of the music of one of Scotland’s most beloved and iconic bands Runrig. The Stamping Ground earned glowing reviews at its premiere in Inverness last summer.

Now the exciting co-production, between Raw Material and Eden Court Highlands, is stopping at Stirling on its Scotland-wide tour for four performances from Wednesday 17th to Saturday 20th May.

The Stamping Ground on stage last year. Photo credit: Ewan Weatherspoon

It follows the story of Euan and Annie, who return to their rural Scottish community after years away and begin a fresh start with their teenage daughter. Though with a heatwave in the Highlands, they soon find themselves lost in their once-familiar homeland which is filled with more tourists than locals.

Their local pub, at the heart of the community, is up for sale and tensions are rising as Euan and Annie are swept into a battle to save the soul of their community.

Featuring new arrangements of some of Runrig’s biggest hits, including The Greatest Flame, All Things Must Change and of course The Stamping Ground, the musical shares the band’s most celebrated music. The songs are written by Runrig’s founding members Calum and Rory MacDonald – half a century after the brothers formed the band on the Isle of Skye in 1973.

New cast members joining the tour include Juliet Cadzow, an icon of Scottish stage and screen who is well-known for her roles in River City and Balamory, Jenny Hulse, who has starred as Amber Murdoch in River City as well as hit Netflix film Outlaw King), Ali Watt, who is a regular performer with Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Naomi Stirrat, from Grid Iron’s Muster Station at EIF 2022, and Robin Campbell, from Magnetic North’s Lost in Music.

The Stamping Ground received rave reviews in 2022. Photo credit: Ewan Weatherspoon

They will join returning cast members Caitlin Forbes, Annie Grace, Robert Grose, Barrie Hunter and Brian James O’Sullivan. The performers are also joined on stage by musicians John Kielty, Jon Mackenzie and Stuart Semple, to help bring the soaring power of the songs to life.

The Stamping Ground is written by award-winning playwright Morna Young (concept by Alan B. McLeod) with musical direction and arrangements by John Kielty, directed by Luke Kernaghan and with design from Kenneth MacLeod.

What reviewers say

★ ★ ★ ★ “breathes compelling new life into Runrig’s songs” - The Times

The Stamping Ground won critical acclaim in 2022. Photo credit: Ewan Weatherspoon

★ ★ ★ ★ “Should be guaranteed a long and joyful theatrical life”- The Scotsman

Margaret-Anne O’Donnell and Gillian Garrity, from independent production company Raw Material, said: “If you are a fan of musicals, a fan of live theatre or just looking for a great night out then this is definitely one not to miss!”

Calum and Rory MacDonald, of Runrig, said: “There has been such a positive reaction from fans and public alike, with still so many that have not had the opportunity to see it first time around.”

Book tickets now

Tickets are on sale now for The Stamping Ground, from May 17-20 at the Macrobert Arts Centre in Stirling.

To book tickets click here.

For more details see www.macrobertartscentre.org or call 01786 466666.

Award-winning The Stamping Ground musical featuring songs of Runrig at Stirling’s Macrobert – book tickets now