Kidnapped
Promotional poster
Written byIsobel McArthur
Based onKidnapped
by Robert Louis Stevenson
Directed by
  • Isobel McArthur
  • Gareth Nicholls
Music byMichael John McCarthy
Date premiered28 March 2023 (2023-03-28)
Place premieredBeacon Arts Centre, Greenock
Genre

Kidnapped is a 2023 Scottish play created by Isobel McArthur and Michael John McCarthy for the National Theatre of Scotland, based on the 1886 novel by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Billed as ‘a swashbuckling rom-com adventure’, the play toured locations in Scotland and England from March to May 2023.

Background and premise

Following the success of McArthur and McCarthy's previous collaboration Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of), Kidnapped takes a similar approach to adapting its source material. The play is a broadly faithful adaptation of the novel, but uses modern language and makes some major changes in presentation. Frances Stevenson, Robert Louis Stevenson's wife and literary collaborator who suggested the story of Kidnapped, appears as a narrator, relating the events of the plot to her own experiences and her relationship with her husband. Music, also mostly modern, is a key element; songs including ’I've Been Everywhere’, ‘Only You’ and a Gaelic version of ‘Road to Nowhere’ are performed live by the cast to accompany the action.[1][2][3]

Additionally, the play presents the relationship between the main characters Davie Balfour and Alan Breck Stewart as a romance. McArthur said about this decision, ‘There are a multitude of political reasons why it feels important and useful to me, but I also feel it’s in the pages of the novel. They clearly love each other’,[4] while actor Malcolm Cumming commented, ‘What this adaptation of Kidnapped does is examine the story and the relationships in light of our acceptance and understanding of relationships today to create a modern and extremely faithful retelling of the story.’[5]

Production history

The play premiered at the Beacon Arts Centre in Greenock on 28 March 2023, running until 1 April. It then toured to the Theatre Royal, Glasgow (5-8 April); the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh (11-22 April); Eden Court Theatre, Inverness (25-29 April); Perth Theatre (3-6 May); and Northern Stage, Newcastle upon Tyne (9-13 May),[6] before finishing its tour at the Theatre Royal, Brighton (18-20 May) as part of Brighton Festival.[7] It was directed by McArthur and Gareth Nicholls.[8]

Cast and characters

National Theatre of Scotland performer[8]Character
Ryan J MacKayDavie Balfour
Malcolm CummingAlan Breck Stewart
Kim IsmayFrances Stevenson
Christina GordonEnsemble
Danielle JamEnsemble
Fatima JawaraEnsemble
Grant O’RourkeEnsemble
David RankineEnsemble
Isaac SavageEnsemble
Karen YoungEnsemble

Reception

The play received generally favourable reviews. The Times called it a ‘hugely enjoyable show’, praising the ‘lively and affectionate’ writing and the ‘heartfelt’ performances by the lead actors and the ensemble;[2] The Guardian described the cast as ‘plucky and lovable’,[1] while The Stage praised the ‘infectious exuberance’ created by McArthur's ‘special talent’;[9] both these reviews also especially noted the music and the set design.

Award nominations

Kidnapped was nominated for four Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland, in the categories of Best Ensemble, Best Design, Best Music and Sound and Best Production.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 "Kidnapped review - razzle-dazzling Robert Louis Stevenson". The Guardian. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Kidnapped review - Stevenson with pop songs and gay romance". thetimes.co.uk. The Times. 2 April 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  3. ↑ "Kidnapped: Turning Stevenson's classic adventure into a new coming-of-age stage show". scotsman.com. The Scotsman. 19 March 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  4. ↑ "Behind the scenes at the National Theatre of Scotland's RLS adaptation". heraldscotland.com. The Herald Scotland. 25 March 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  5. ↑ "Kidnapped: New take on classic tale headed for Inverness". pressandjournal.co.uk. The Press & Journal. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  6. ↑ "Tour archive for Kidnapped (Play). 28th March 2023-13th May 2023 [TOUR]". uktw.co.uk. UK Theatre Web. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  7. ↑ "Kidnapped". brightonfestival.org. Brighton Festival. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  8. 1 2 "Kidnapped - A swashbuckling rom-com adventure". nationaltheatrescotland.com. National Theatre of Scotland. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  9. ↑ "Kidnapped review at Theatre Royal Glasgow". thestage.co.uk. The Stage. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  10. ↑ "2023 Shortlist". criticsawards.theatrescotland.com. Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
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