A new play which focuses on the complexities of the independence question and how it impacts on Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales will enjoy its world premiere at the Edinburgh Festival this August before touring various venues across the UK and Wales.
I'm With The Band sees the associate director of Edinburgh's Traverse Theatre Hamish Pirie once more teaming up with Welsh playwright Tim Price in a collaborative production between the Traverse and the Wales Millennium Centre.
The pair previously worked together on Tim's play Salt, Root and Roe, which was nominated for an Olivier award, and enjoy an inspiring working relationship.
Tim Price. Photo: Warren Orchard
Tim's new play focuses on the trouble faced by the indie-rock band The Union - which consists of an Englishman, a Welshman, a Scotsman and a Northern Irishman - when their Scottish guitarist Barry leaves the band and they are on the brink of breaking up.
I spoke to Tim back in June, and he told me a little about how the show was born: "I was talking to Orla O'Loughlin at the Traverse about Scottish independence and about how it's going to impact on Wales and she said that no-one in Scotland was writing about it.
"At the time I was working with Neon Neon on Praxis Makes Perfect, and I had the idea that you could tell the story of Scottish independence through the metaphor of a band.
"I pitched it to her in the Traverse bar and she said if I could get something down on paper she'd commission it. I did and fortunately she loved it."
James Hillier (Damien – the Englishman) and Andy Clark (Barry – the Scotsman) in rehearsal. Photo: Mihaela Bodlovic
Tim decided the best way to explore the politics was through personal relationships and how each of the characters interacts with one another.
Thus Northern Ireland is the volatile drummer, Scotland is the miserable guitarist, England the egotistical singer songwriter and Wales the whipping boy bassist.
Welsh actor Matthew Bulgo is to play Gruff, the Welsh band member, alongside James Hillier (Damien, the Englishman), Declan Rodgers (Aaron, the Northern Irishman) and Andy Clark (Barry, the Scotsman).
Welsh actor Matthew Bulgo plays Gruff the bassist in I'm With The Band. Photo: Mihaela Bodlovic
"When Barry the guitarist leaves, it sends the other three into varying degrees of chaos, and opens up old wounds and forges new friendships. I think. I still haven't figured out the ending yet!
"I'm With The Band is my response to the Scottish independence question. I love Scotland. Part of me is delighted with the idea that a country I love might become autonomous. But as a Welshman I am heartbroken at the prospect of a diminished relationship.
"I wanted to find a way to explore the complicated relationships between the home countries. I'm With The Band explores the independence question, through a rock band losing their guitarist. It asks, could the Union survive without Scotland? And could Scotland survive without the Union?
"Theatre is in a unique position to respond rapidly to national questions, and it is a privilege to contribute to this debate at the home of new writing in Scotland."
Fresh from his sell-out production Praxis Makes Perfect, which saw him and director Wils Wilson teaming up with Gruff Rhys and Boom Bip for an immersive gig experience, Tim is keen to see live music play a part in the new production.
Although I'm With The Band will not be a musical, the creative team are trying to tell part of the story through music and the set numbers played by the band.
Declan Rodgers who plays drummer Aaron, the Northern Irishman. Photo: Mihaela Bodlovic
Tim added: "We're still figuring out how the music will work in the play. Having worked with musicians on Praxis, they're far more comfortable expressing themselves through music than they are just talking."
I'm With The Band will be his third play at the Traverse Theatre, as Orla directed his first-ever play For Once when she was at Pentabus and programmed it at the Traverse when she took over there.
He said: "I'm extraordinarily lucky to feel like the Traverse is something of a home from home.
"Hamish is quite possibly the most charismatic man on the planet so any time in his company is a bonus.
"I hope the audience will see some big ideas, tackled with warmth and mischief... I mean, what's not to love to about putting Wales and England on stage and making them tell each other, despite everything, they love each other?"
The play is Tim's first piece to be shown at Edinburgh, but he has been an avid festival-goer for the last 10 years and it marks, in his words, "a huge tick off the bucket list".
"The Traverse is the beating heart of the festival. I've watched some of the greatest plays I've ever seen on that stage during the festival so to be part of it is incredible."
Sound designer/composer Gordon McIntyre and director Hamish Pirie. Photo: Mihaela Bodlovic
The Wales Millennium Centre has been behind the play since the early draft stage and will be taking it to all four home nations, and Tim hopes to see at least one performance in each country.
Conrad Lynch, Artistic Director of the Wales Millennium Centre said: "We are delighted to be working with Scotland's premier new writing theatre for the first time and thrilled that our production is being performed in Edinburgh, highlighting the writing talent we have the privilege of developing in Wales."
I'm With The Band is presented in Edinburgh as part of the British Council's Showcase season from 2-25 August. It then transfers to the St James Theatre in London before touring venues across Wales, Northern Ireland and England.
In Wales you can catch it at The Welfare, Ystradgynlais, 17-18 September; Torch Theatre, Milford Haven 23-24 September; The Coliseum, Aberdare, 25-26 September; Pontio, Bangor, 28-29 September; Theatre Brycheinog, Brecon 2-3 October; Ffwrnes, Llanelli, 9-10 October; Gwyn Hall, Neath, 11-12 October; and at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre on 14-15 October.
Cardiff audiences can catch it at the Weston Studio at the Wales Millennium Centre on 16-19 October.
