Orkney drama clubs come to the rescue as competitors’ set waylaid

“The show must go on” say those competing in this week’s SCDA One Act Play Competition, as Orkney’s drama community pulls together to help visiting teams who will be arriving in the county without their scenery.

Nine teams, including three from Orkney, will take part in the three-night Northern Divisional Final at the Orkney Theatre, starting tonight. But travel disruption has left some visitors travelling from Perthshire and Aberdeenshire unable to transport their set.

Clubs from Kirkwall, St Andrews, Stromness and Birsay are all understood to be lending a helping hand, offering flats, furniture and set dressing to teams left without.

“The show must go on,” said Jane Harcus of Palace Players, which has offered a number of large wooden flats to be used by the southern teams.

“I’m glad that we have things we can help people with — we have a big studio here full of stuff.

Mrs Harcus, who is directing this year’s entry from the Kirkwall club, has had to deal with the logistics of transporting scenery south for the competition in previous years.

“There have been times in the past when we have gone south and we have been unable to take a bit of furniture and other teams have helped us out, so it’s nice to be able to return the favour.”

“I hope everyone gets here and enjoys the festival, despite the weather.”

Read coverage of the festival in next week’s edition of The Orcadian. Get your paper before it hits the shops on http://orcadian.co.uk/digital-edition/