It is the quintessential cult Scottish movie, which has inspired legions of devoted fans, a Hollywood remake and even a music festival.
But the many devotees of The Wicker Man – the 1973 film starring Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland and Edward Woodward – will see a new, unexpected version of the classic horror when it is staged as a “skewed comedy musical” by the National Theatre of Scotland (NTS) next year.
Greg Hemphill, the actor and writer known for Chewin’ the Fat and Still Game, will write and star in An Appointment With The Wicker Man, a new piece of musical theatre by the NTS which is to tour Scotland early next year.
Based on the film’s screenplay by Anthony Shaffer – and made with the blessing of the film’s producers – it is being written by Hemphill and Donald McLeary and directed by Vicky Featherstone, the NTS artistic director.
It is set on a remote Scottish island, where an amateur dramatic group, the Loch Parry Theatre Players, are mounting a stage version of the film.
However, the lead actor goes missing in mysterious circumstances and, in a mirror of the film plot, they call on the services of a “television cop” from the mainland to step in and save the production.
Hemphill, returning to the stage for the first time in many years, hopes the work will attract both those who know nothing of the film and those who, like him, revere the cult classic.
An Appointment With The Wicker Man was announced yesterday as part of the NTS spring season, alongside news of more international touring for NTS productions.
It will be performed from February 21 to March 24 next year in large theatres – His Majesty’s in Aberdeen, the Theatre Royal in Glasgow, Eden Court in Inverness and The Alhambra in Dunfermline.
The venues were chosen partly because the NTS expects the production to be popular and also to cater for a large on-stage Wicker Man.
Hemphill, who plays an actor who portrays Lord Summerisle, the part made famous by Lee in the original movie, told The Herald: “We talked about how we could tell the story, and this seems a more fun way than just slavishly copying the film.
“The film is a jack-in-the-box movie, it is all about the ending, so it would be a waste, in a way, to just stage the film. Hopefully our way of doing it will be both scary and funny.
“I cannot remember the last time I was on the stage – I need to go and learn my lines. You begin to wonder whether you are an actor at all when you are doing TV, when you can do 12 takes of everything. I needed a challenge.”
The Glasgow-based performer added: “The NTS is a remarkable organisation because they don’t rest on their laurels: they have had massive worldwide successes but they keep trying to do new things like this.
“I think this can be described as a comedy version of a horror film, a skewed take on it.”
Hemphill and McLeary have been collaborating together on various film and television projects since 2007.
Their feature film project, The Sea Hag of the Western Isles, is currently in development and they are making a film with Ecosse films entitled Call Me Bill, while their BBC comedy Blue Haven is scheduled to shoot in April 2012.
Ms Featherstone said: “Comedy is something that is so rare in theatre. There are moments when it happens, but usually writers are drawn to the theatre because they want to write about serious and complex things.
“I was in conversation with Greg and proposed the idea to him. He loved it because it is one of his favourite films.
“I hope it is at least funny, and the aim is for it to be incredibly funny.”
She added that one of the benefits of the NTS not being tied to a particular theatre is that its programme can vary the appeal of its work.
The NTS also announced that Long Gone Lonesome, written by Duncan McLean as a tribute to Thomas Fraser, a Shetland fisherman, crofter and country music performer, will be touring the US next year – including stops in Texas, Indiana, Chicago, Penn-sylvania and Florida.
It is funded by the Scottish Government’s international touring fund.
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