Cast and Creative Team

Writer Lewis Hetherington

Director Sophie Howell

Set and Costume Designer Christine Ting-Huan

Urquhart

Sound Designer Novasound

Lighting Designer Laura Hawkins

Assistant Director Leila Price

Production Assistant Katy Bancroft

Movement Director Jo Richards

Magic Consultant Chris Cook

Production Manager Mickey Graham

Stage Manager Jessica Ward

Assistant Stage Manager Shay McCourt

Amber Orla Bayne (He/She/They)

Glamber Ryan Simpson (He/They)

Bamber Angus Bryans (He/Him)

Amber 602 Annabelle Conroy (She/They)

Amber 603 Lucy Campbell (She/They)

The Amberate Lewis James (He/Him)

Jessie Sophie Kayembe (She/They)

Benny Odhran Thomson (He/They)

Chilly Cee Reville

Robin Ava Richmond (She/They)

Cameron Max Turner (He/Him)

Caz Nora (El) Rose Trew-Rae

Daz Tristan Saunders (He/Him)

Young Writer Lune Ramsay (Them/They)

Young Director Aalim Somalya (He/Him)

Young Designer Moss

Hutcheon (They/Them/Fae/Faer)

Young Stage Manager Cal Hind

Thank you

First and foremost, we would like to thank our fantastic cast and Young Creatives team for coming on this journey with us. Their talent, energy and relentless enthusiasm has been wonderful to work with and have carried us through rehearsals with lots of laughter! We wouldn’t have been able to make this production happen without the support of the wider Lyceum team of core staff and freelancers – thank you for bringing your expertise to the process and for supporting our young people throughout.

To Mickey Graham, Shay McCourt and Jessica Ward for working your magic to make our ambitious ideas happen. Special thanks to Jackie Crichton, Zinnie Harris and Sharon May for their guidance along the way.

A word from the Writer

The Golden Beaver in the play, is real. There is some debate as to whether it might actually be an otter, but either way, there is an actual statue of a beaver (or otter) which sits in the Water of Leith in the Dean Gardens, right here in Edinburgh. It’s almost certainly not real gold but there is something ridiculous and magical about it, as it sits there glinting away, water rushing past, watching the world go by.

I wanted to set the play in Edinburgh, to locate it here in this city and acknowledge and celebrate the richness and breadth of people who live here - in particular the young people. Those young people who are navigating the turbulent waters of identity, relationships, sexuality, gender, parties, exams, what to wear, what not to wear, what to do with their lives, and so much more. I also wanted it to feel irreverent and expansive, to celebrate the playfulness, curiosity and energy of young people.

I could not have had a better set of guides than the company of actors in the show tonight, as well as the other young creative people who were part of this process at various stages through its development. Their talent, commitment and creativity have inspired, challenged and sometimes totally turned inside out my ideas about what this story might be and who these characters are. I hope I have honoured all the energy, honesty and thoughtfulness that they have been generous enough to share with me. I can’t wait to see what they all go on to create next.

This show is about shining a light on young people, and celebrating all they have to teach us about life, love and the universe. Well, multiverse. I hope you enjoy it! Lewis

Hetherington

A word from the Director

“The multiverse is having its moment right now” is the first thing I said when we commissioned Lewis to write this play, and I think one of the reasons it’s currently such a popular convention is that it brings a sense of hope. If there are infinite universes, then there are infinite opportunities to do things slightly differently and to see worlds that are potentially freer/more open than our own.

The main setting of the play – The Big Nowhere –is a safe-haven for the freaks, the geeks, the queers and everyone who has ever felt like they don’t fit in, and it has been so delightful to be transported there in rehearsals for the last six months. I would have loved a play like this to have been written when I was younger!

Directing this production has been an absolute dream, and it has been such a pleasure to watch our young company grow as performers and to have them so involved in shaping the world of the story. They are such a talented bunch and continue to fill me with such a positive outlook for the future of the theatre industry.

At the start of the project I asked them what they wanted to the show to be, there was a unanimous message that it was important to tell queer and LGBTQA stories that are filled with joy and love – and I think we have achieved that together. I hope you laugh, I hope you dance, and I hope you learn something about yourself while watching!

Sophie Howell