Actress reflects being part of first Stamping Ground company was special as Runrig-inspired show returns to Eden Court
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Caitlin Forbes – the actress and musician originally from Caithness – returns with the touring production of The Stamping Ground which is back on stage at Eden Court this week with some new cast members and some tweaks. Caitlin kindly made time to answer a few questions about her Stamping Ground experience so far...
Q Remind us of your character in the musical – you are returning to play her in this production too?
A Caitlin Forbes: I play Fiona, the teenage daughter of Euan and Annie. Fiona has grown up in London where she was badly bullied and as a result the family are moving to Glenbeag where Euan and Annie were brought up.
Q What is it like working with new actors in roles where you have known the earlier cast from llast year's shows – does it make those characters seem very different?
A Caitlin Forbes: We have great new cast members joining us this year. The characters remain very similar at heart but, of course, the new actors have found their own new nuances within them which keeps everything feeling fresh.
Q What was it like doing The Stamping Ground for the first time. I guess you must have had a feeling of a company of performers together?
A Caitlin Forbes: Being a part of the first company of The Stamping Ground was a special experience as we were all very much a part of contributing to the development of the characters, relationships and even the choreography and musical arrangements. It felt like a big team effort.
Q What did you learn from the experience?
A Caitlin Forbes: It was really interesting to be involved in the project while everything was still being developed. Having Morna Young, the writer, in the room for lots of rehearsals allowed for great conversations about the script, giving me invaluable insight into Fiona’s character.
Q What did you do in between that one and the new production – did you get the chance for a break?
A Caitlin Forbes: A few highlights of things I've been up to since last year – working on development projects for other new Scottish musicals, performing in panto, leading a new Fair Access initiative at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland for teenagers from underrepresented backgrounds interested in a career in musical theatre.
Q Do you think you bring anything different to your role now, having lived through the first time and all the living in between?
A Caitlin Forbes: I think the biggest thing which has affected myself and others in the cast was watching the Runrig documentary There Must Be A Place. We had the opportunity to watch it in Eden Court Cinema and it was very moving. I already felt very honoured to be a part of Runrig’s legacy through this show, but the film really brought home just how much their music means to people and has given me a renewed appreciation and understanding of the power of their music. I have also been living the city life in Glasgow for a few years now and the longer I am away from rural, Highland life, the more I feel drawn to it, meaning the themes of The Stamping Ground are feeling ever more special to me.
Q What do you think people who saw the production last year will see in the way of changes with the new one?
A Caitlin Forbes: A few small changes have been made to make the story a bit slicker.
Q The world is maybe a little bit different since last year – has that changed the way people may see it when they see it for the first time?
A Caitlin Forbes: The themes of this story are so relevant to Scottish, rural communities and this show still feels like one of just a few wee gems which represent a part of life and Scotland not so often seen in theatre. It gives it a particular appeal to those of us from that part of the world, but in a way that is so accessible for a broader audience.
Q What are you looking forward to about the tour of Scotland?
A Caitlin Forbes: I’m really excited to follow in Runrig’s footsteps by touring a taste of the Highlands to audiences from further afield.
You can see Caitlin Forbes in her return to the Eden Court stage with The Stamping Ground this week, on till Saturday.
