Filmmaker Statement

I grew up performing with Shute Theatre & Arts Guild (STAG). This film began when, many years later, I remembered being told this story by elder members of the group. Curious, and somewhat skeptical, I started calling people who might remember the tale. So began a meandering journey through the phone books of East Devon. However what began as an attempt to deconstruct this local legend ended up becoming something quite different. I eventually realised that what I’d been interested in all along, much like all those who took part in STAG’s shows, was the community. And this ended up becoming the heart of the film. Ultimately The Scottish Play is a participant in the perpetuation of this myth rather than a critical observer. In keeping with this, stylistically speaking, I tried to make a film that feels “of this world", rather than simply about it. The Scottish Play was made on a shoe string with borrowed equipment in a playful bricolage style; it is a celebration of amateurism and community that I hope says something about the nature of Art and why we make it.