Spring has come and as the snow melts war is imminent, but it seems there are battles to be fought at home too. Arthur’s son Mordred is bitter and wants to take his father’s place on the throne and seeing an opportunity to destroy Arthur, betrays those around him.
This is not an Arthurian legend filled with knights and armour but a tale told from the Celtic roots of it’s legends with heavy emphasis on Britain’s pagan past, the Green Man and celebrations of Yule and Beltane are all part of the story. Merlin is not a star spangled conjuror but a passionate pagan advisor who dislikes the onset of Christianity. Arthur is a beloved leader, a rugged man clad in leather, plaid and fur. In this version of the tale, the men are not the controlling characters; it is the women that will decide on the fate of Arthur.

Always visually engaging the play moves fluidly from scene to scene, place to place. There is music played live onstage by a guitarist which adds to the raw, ancient feel, although at times it became distracting when too loud. The cast all perform well; though it is a shame that its strongest performers do not have more scenes together. As the focus is often placed on the stories the characters tell rather than the characters themselves this is probably a piece for those already familiar with the legends of Arthur and the mythology that surrounded him.

Scottish Storytelling Centre
Aug 15-Sep 2 at 16:00