That became “Welcome to the Isle of Eigg,” the opening song of the musical. The visitors arrive, the islanders are there to greet them, and almost immediately the stage comes alive with music, song, dance and choreography. We didn't want to begin by telling the audience about Eigg. We wanted them to feel as though they had just stepped off the ferry themselves.
The music and choreography became a huge part of recreating that feeling. Scottish influences, ensemble movement and the communal energy of ceilidh dancing allow the entire company to become part of the welcome. There is a wonderful informality to it—the feeling that you've arrived somewhere and suddenly found yourself in the middle of the music and dance.
That first visit also changed the way we thought about Eigg the Musical as a whole. The more time we spent on the island, the more we understood that we weren't simply creating a piece of musical theatre about a series of historical events. We were telling the story of a place and the generations of people connected to it. The landscape, the history, the music and, especially, the sense of community all became part of the show.
And that is why the musical begins with a welcome. Long before we get to the lairds, land reform, changing generations and the remarkable story of community ownership, we want the audience to meet Eigg in much the same way we did: arriving by ferry, stepping ashore and discovering the island for the first time. Of course, our arrival didn't come with an entire company singing and dancing. That's where musical theatre comes in.
Welcome to the Isle of Eigg.
Music & Lyrics by April Alsup
Book by Mark Sbani
Eigg the Musical licensed through Viewmark.
