NEWS: Battery Park by Andy McGregor to tour Scotland
Battery Park is the exciting new production from Scottish theatre director, composer and playwright Andy McGregor, and is part of The Beacon Arts Centres 10th anniversary programme. It tells the story of Tommy, a jaded, middle-aged guy from Greenock and the story of his band from the 90s ‘Battery Park’ – the biggest band you’ve never heard of!
Part theatre and part live music gig, Battery Park takes the audience on a journey back to the 90s, the Britpop era, when Tommy, his brother Ed, their best pal Biffy and a private school girl, Robyn, created the band and were really going places and getting ready for the biggest gig of their lives. Tommy’s nostalgic reminiscing takes us back to the band members small town Greenock lives and how their big time dreams nearly, so so nearly, became reality with a support gig for Oasis at the Barrowland Ballroom. From broken dreams to broken hearts it is a story that is funny and heart breaking in equal measure.
There is fantastic music from a brilliant live band playing Battery Park’s original songs alongside a great cast who tell the story of the rise and abrupt fall of the band.
It’s definitely not a musical but it’s gritty and it’s loud and it’s very Scottish. Ideal for the Britpop fans, anyone who has been in a band or ever dreamed of being in a band – basically anyone who loves music…and theatre!
Andy McGregor says of Battery Park: “I’m really excited to finally be bringing this play to the Scottish stage. The idea has been with me for many years, loosely based on my own experience of being in a rock band that, ultimately, failed. It’s a really exciting cast and team and I think the concept of live music and storytelling will make for a really fun and interesting night out. It’s definitely a play that comes from the heart and I think there will be a lot in it that audiences will relate to.”
Karen Townsend, Creative Producer & Acting Joint Director of the Beacon says “We are delighted to be able bring this story to life here on our stage at the Beacon before touring Scotland. The Beacon have supported the development of this show since 2020, as we could see the talent in the company and wanted our audiences to be able to experience the fantastic writing, amazing musicians and talented actors. It will bring back memories, but also be entertaining for those who didn’t experience the 90’s first time around. Sleeping Warrior will be taking a little bit of that Inverclyde magic with them on tour.”
Battery Park is touring to 13 venues across Scotland in 2023. The tour kicks off at Beacon Arts Centre (Greenock) on 22 & 23 September before touring to Tron Theatre (Glasgow); Dundee Rep (Dundee); The Gaiety (Ayr); Reconnect Regal Theatre (Bathgate); Byre Theatre (St Andrews); Perth Theatre (Perth); Cumbernauld Theatre (Cumbernauld); Howden Park Centre (Livingstone); CatStrand (New Galloway); Traverse Theatre (Edinburgh) with the final performance at Eden Court (Inverness) on 29 October.
Image: Eoin Carey
