Interview: Owen Sutcliffe, ‘Òran’

Ahead of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024, we’re chatting with a range of creatives who will be heading to the city over August to find out more about their shows. Today we’re chatting with Owen Sutcliffe about Òran.

Photo by Gregor Boyd.

Can you tell us a bit about you and your career so far?

My name’s Owen Sutcliffe and I live and work in Glasgow. I’m a typical freelancer, spending my weeks as a writer, musician, community worker and forest school leader. Writing and emceeing, though, are my first loves. I studied music at undergraduate level and am in the final term of an MA in creative writing from Glasgow University. I’ve written songs and poems since I was a wee boy and have performed in the UK and Europe both as a frontman of bands and under my solo moniker CRPNTR. I’ve won a national award for Gaelic poetry, delivered writing workshops to children and adults alike (not always a clear distinction!) and taught my Mum’s singing group to beatbox. I like smelly cheese and rich wine. Òran is my first commissioned work for theatre. 

What is your show about?

The show is a sort of retelling of the myth of Orpheus & Eurydice; it follows Òran, who first loses then travels to the Underworld to rescue his best pal Euan. There are, of course, obstacles to overcome and lessons to learn on his journey and along the way Òran is teased and taunted by Hades, ruler of the Deep Downstairs, who won’t give Euan up lightly. It’s also a story about the impact of phones and social media on young people. 

What was the inspiration for Òran and what’s the development process been to get to this stage?

At the wedding of a mutual friend in 2022, I got chatting to director Jack Nurse about our favourite Greek myths. It turned out we both love the story of Orpheus, so this show was seeded there and then, on hay bales by the buffet. When the script commission from Wonder Fools to write an adaptation arrived a couple of months later, I felt that the story I wanted to tell was one of a young person lost to their phone, and the lengths a friend might go to bring them back. I was taken by the question of what it might be like down there, in the Underworld of phones, in the Deep Downstairs. I guess the whole thing draws on all I’ve seen up close as a youth worker, and my own experiences too. 

We’ve done a couple of partial scratch performances so far and audience feedback has been excellent. Actor Robbie Gordon is a treat to watch onstage and the score has grown excitingly in the past few months, and after a couple of tweaks and redrafts I now feel the text is in the best possible position for its full run in August.

What made you want to take Òran to the Fringe?

We wanted people to see it, wanted to stand beside countless other amazing artists and performers and see their stuff too. The festival offers a unique opportunity to platform the show we’re so proud of and to make connections which might prove vital in future. Edinburgh National Partnerships have made this possible, and I’m so grateful to The Pleasance and Pitlochry Festival Theatre for selecting Òran for backing this summer. 

Apart from seeing Òran, what’s your top tip for anybody heading for Edinburgh this summer?

See food, eat shows.

Why should people book Òran?

It’s a total buzz of a journey to go on; a belter of an original score by VanIves; an engaging and dynamic performance onstage and a story which will push and pull you all the way Downstairs. We’re on mid-afternoon in a great location, so book Òran to fill your before-tea slot and work up an appetite for the evening.

When and where can people see Òran?

Pleasance Courtyard, Baby Grand, 3.15pm 

31st July - 25th August (every day except Mondays!)