Battery Park is the exciting new production from Sleeping Warrior Theatre Company and 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 (fun fact – 2023 is the 30th anniversary of Britpop), 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 smalltown Greenock lives and how their bigtime 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.
The brilliant cast perform Battery Park’s original songs on stage and tell the story of the incredible rise and abrupt fall of Battery Park.
It is 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 tour listings:
Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock
Friday 22 & Saturday 23 September | beaconartscentre.co.uk
Tron Theatre, Glasgow
Thursday 28, Friday 29 & Saturday 30 September | tron.co.uk
Dundee Rep, Dundee
Tuesday 3 October | dundeerep.co.uk
The Gaiety, Ayr
Saturday 07 October | thegaiety.co.uk
Reconnect Regal Theatre, Bathgate
Wednesday 11 October | reconnectregal.com
Byre Theatre, St Andrews
Friday 13 October | byretheatre.com
Perth Theatre, Perth
Saturday 14 October | perththeatreandconcerthall.com
Cumbernauld Theatre at Lanternhouse, Cumbernauld
Tuesday 17 October | lanternhousearts.org
Howden Park Centre, Livingstone
Thursday 19 October | howdenparkcentre.co.uk
CatStrand, New Galloway
Saturday 21 October | gcat.scot
Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
Thursday 26 & Friday 27 October | traverse.co.uk
Eden Court, Inverness
Sunday 29 October | eden-court.co.uk
Cast
The cast includes RCS student Stuart Edgar making his professional stage debut (after many years in the music industry) as Tommy; with Chris Alexander, known for his roles in Smile (Dundee Rep), Control Room and Scot Squad, playing the older Tommy. The rest of Battery Park is made up of musician and actor Kim Allan (The Devil’s Hour (Amazon) Guilt (BBC), Mooning (Play,Pie & A Pint), Cinderella (The Beacon)) as Robyn; Tommy McGowan who spent the last few years travelling the world on Royal cruise lines performing in Broadway and West End shows as Tommy’s brother Ed; Charlie West (The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart (The Royal Lyceum Theatre/Double M Arts, US Tour/Off-Broadway, New York), Orphans (National Theatre of Scotland)) as best pal Biffy; and Chloe-Ann Tylor (Thrown (National Theatre of Scotland); Svengali; (Pitlochry/ Pleasance), I am Tiger (Perth theatre/ Children’s festival), as Angie/Lucy.
🌟NEWS: Britpop inspired play 'Battery Park' kicks off in Greenock before heading out on Scottish tour. Sleeping Warrior Theatre company | Andy McGregor🌟
📸 Photo credit: Eoin Carey
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