THE BOW MAKER

work-in-progress
Development supported by National Theatre of Scotland & Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

In an abandoned concert hall, reclaimed by forest, a tree grows through the stage. This tree has a story to tell us.

Oscar makes bows for the world’s finest string players. His work requires a specific and rare wood harvested from this ancient Brazilian tree. Lara is a young woodcutter making her living in the illegal trade of this same tree. When the near extinction of this tree puts both of their careers on the line and threatens the future of classical string music, they are catapulted into a story that moves from Europe’s concert halls to Brazil’s Atlantic Rainforest. Fusing contemporary string quartet with Brazilian and Scottish folk music, The Bow Maker is a modern fairytale bringing together international trade, environmental activism and classical music to explore our inter-connectedness and our global love of music and art. Based on true events.

Created by Finn Anderson, Tania Azevedo & Siba Veloso

DEVELOPMENT SO FAR

Supported by Creative Scotland and British Council, we travelled to Europe to meet the bow makers in their workshops; to Brazil to meet the farmers and activists protecting their national tree; and to spend time with the finest string players here in Scotland to learn about their craft. We were supported by National Theatre of Scotland, Dundee Rep and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland for an initial stage of development. The Bow Maker was one of 8 new musicals to headline BEAM Festival at Theatre Royal Stratford East in London in 2018, in association with the London Musical Theatre Orchestra. Working with Brazilian and Scottish actors and musicians, we undertook a workshop in 2020 with the support of National Theatre of Scotland.