The tangle o’ the isles

There is no doubt that life was tough out there, but the islanders were even tougher.

Composer Ken Robb realises this.

After a chance meeting with one Captain Albert Brand, Ken was told the wonderful tale of when the islands were evacuated in 1930.

So impressed was the composer, he penned a musical about the evacuation, The Love of St Kilda, which recives its premier showing at Eastwood Park Theatre.

It will form part of the Eastwood Rotary Charity Variety Show on Sunday.

An additional surprise for the audience will be the attendance of a BBC film crew who will be shooting the show as part of a documentaryon the development of the musical show.

The story follows a young couple, Annie McQueen and George McKinnon, preparing for the evacuation of the islands.

Captain Brand told Ken “a wonderful tale about the evacuation of St Kilda in 1930 and the fate of some of the evacuees whose lives were turned upside down by war and the events which followed.

“I instantly fell in love with St Kilda and researched the background.

“I knew that this untold story of tragedy, courage, love and adventure simply had to be told.”

The entire show will be compered by local celebrity Dean Park. Also in the two and a half hour show will be Giffnock’s Rock Choir, East Renfrewshire Schools Jazz Band and the magic of Scott Cuthbertson.

The show is on from 7.30pm — tickets £10.