Theatre girls keep on truckin'
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THREE members of an English theatre company completed an unsual Land’s End to John O’Groats challenge on Monday – after getting a lift from a Caithness trucking enthusiast.
The young women from the Gramophones Theatre Company, an all-female troupe based in Nottingham, arrived in Wick at the start of the week after employing almost every conceivable form of transport to get from the southernmost point on the British coast to the Far North.
Hannah Stone (27), Ria Ashcroft (30) and Kristy Guest (25) made the trip travelling on a pink tractor through Gloucester, microlights over Sheffield, via three DeLoreans – the car made famous in the Back to the Future film trilogy – in Nottingham, by limousine in Birmingham and backwards on a boat on Lake Windermere, as well as a myriad of other forms of transport.
Local charity supporter and trucking fiend Dan Mackenzie picked up the trio from Wick on Monday and took them to the famous signpost at end of the road in his massive Renault Magnum truck, putting the final finishing touch to their incredible journey.
The trip will now form the basis of a show for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
"We had some funding to do a journey and then to do a piece of theatre," explained artistic director Hannah.
"So we thought why not explore the place we live and talk to people, collect their stories, find out what home is and why people go on journeys. It’s been amazing, it’s definitely been the best experience I’ve ever had."
She added: "We’ve met so many kind people on the way and the challenge is going to be getting that element into the show, as drama thrives on conflict."
Trusting to their resourcefulness and the kindness of strangers the three made the 18-day, 874-mile journey north armed with only a backpack, a pound per mile for travel and whatever help was offered to them along the way.
After getting as far as Helmsdale they encountered transport problems and had to hitch a ride with some holidaymakers who brought them as far as Wick.
From there, after a quick jaunt into the John O’Groat Journal offices, they hooked up with Barrock trucker Dan and his wife, Dolina, who took them the rest of the way.
"I took them in the Magnum from the Norseman via our home to see our American Peterbilt truck," said Dan. "Dolina made them a cup of coffee and then we ran them down to John O’Groats.
"It all worked out well in the end and we’re glad we helped them out."
The trio was able to make the epic journey thanks to support from the Arts Council England and Theatre Writing Partnership.
On their return south the women will create an "inventive, surprising piece of theatre inspired by our adventure and the characters we encountered along the route", said Hannah.
The piece will be showcased during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival from August 12 to 26 as part of the Free Fringe. It will be performed at Bannerman’s Bar in the Cowgate at 1.45pm daily. More information can be found at www.gramophonestheatre.com/
