As previously reported, we have just spent seven glorious days in the Catskill Mountains supporting Kate Tempest, Katie Douglas and Che Walker in writing their Paines Plough commissions. By the end of the week, Che and Kate both had exceptional rehearsal drafts, with both plays in production this month. Meanwhile Katie, whose play rehearses in September, completed a brilliant first draft.
Welcome to Hunter
As well as sunny skies, creek swims and bear hunts, we were treated to a fire-side Kate Tempest gig, with intimate renditions of RENEGADE, LIFE OF A SCRIBE and BEST INTENTIONS. In a Paines Plough exclusive, you can listen to a bootleg recording of Kate performing the three tracks below.
Listen to Part One here: RENEGADE and the first half of LIFE OF A SCRIBE.
Listen to Part Two here: The second half of LIFE OF A SCRIBE and BEST INTENTIONS.
If you like what you hear, you can find out how to buy a copy of Kate’s band’s début album here.
Another terrifying face-to-face encounter with a bear.
We were also able to piece together a first go at The 8th, albeit very roughly. We had a copy of Paul’s first draft of the track, over the top of which Reg read Che’s final draft of the script. Here’s a sneak preview of what you can expect when we open the show on 7th July for the Manchester International Festival.
On our final day we ventured out to the one local pub – Mac Gregors – where I was thrilled to learn something I had long suspected was the case, but until now had lacked the necessary evidence to confirm:
