From the producer and writer behind smash-hit Islander The Musical (Musical Theatre Review’s Best Musical Award – Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2019) comes the world premiere of Distance Remaining – a collection of three soaring theatrical stories made for the screen starring Karen Dubar, Reuben Joseph and Dolina MacLennan.
Capturing delicate performances with multiple digital cameras, Distance Remaining offers a panoramic view of Scotland under lockdown from unusual angles. Ten venues across Scotland, from Stirling to Mull and Edinburgh, have united together to present the work as part of a four-week virtual tour (14 April to 9 May 2021).
Three lost souls make a break for freedom, embarking on journeys of discovery. But it’s April 2020 and no journey is as simple as A to B – even to the front door.
Distance Remaining follows their quests to reconnect – reconnect with the people in their lives, the places where they live, and the selves they might become.
Volunteer driver Lindsey (Karen Dunbar, Chewin’ the Fat and The Karen Dunbar Show) on a delivery round that quickly descends into a bolt for freedom; pensioner Jess (Dolina MacLennan, Still Game and 7:84’s The Cheviot, The Stag and The Black Black Oil) making an epic journey across her living room floor; and teenage Cam (Reuben Joseph, NTS’s Rapunzel) finally looking up from his phone at the world around him.
Writer Stewart Melton commented: “Like many, I have often felt marooned this past year, cut off from the people I love and activities that bring my life shape and purpose. Perhaps as a result, I am very curious about how we all differently engage with separation and solitude and find what we need within ourselves and our immediate surroundings.
“In writing Distance Remaining, I have loved following all three characters’ adventures as they confront, overcome or reconcile with their loneliness – they have helped me feel less alone and I hope they will be good company to others too.”
Director Caitlin Skinner added: “I feel hugely grateful to be able to make work in this time – and the project has really involved a rethink and reimagine into how we will make the show in order to keep everyone on the team as safe as possible.
“It’s really important to be producing new work at this time, I have realised more than ever that you can’t predict how that work will be interpreted when audiences see it – and it’s going to hit differently because the world will be different– we’re living in constant change.
“Distance Remaining speaks to many of the themes – loneliness, fear, anticipation and confusion about the right now and the promise of the next moment. I’m hoping it makes some really genuine connections with audiences this spring.”
Distance Remaining is written by Stewart Melton (Islander: A New Musical) with an original soundtrack by Louise McCraw (Goodnight Louisa), directed for the internet by Caitlin Skinner (NTS’s Scenes for Survival, Lament for Sheku Bayoh).
Boldly blending film, theatre and a transporting electronic score, Distance Remaining is a comic, touching and ultimately uplifting reflection on what is important now. The piece is approximately 60 minutes long and is appropriate for ages 14-plus.
Also in the creative team are director of photography Seth Hardwick, production designer Jen McGinley, assistant director Nathaniell Brimmer-Beller, production manager Mickey Graham, producer Helen Milne (Helen Milne Productions) and assistant producer Michelle MacKay.
The venues involved are the Macrobert Arts Centre, Eden Court Theatre, Dundee Rep Theatre, Eastgate Theatre, The Byre Theatre, the Beacon Arts Centre, the Mull Theatre, the Lyth Arts Centre, the Assembly Roxy and the Perth Theatre.
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