After a spine-chilling post-show talk for ghost story When Darkness Falls last year, I’m looking forward to reuniting with writer Paul Morrissey at London’s Park Theatre for his latest new thriller, Wickies.
Wickie: n. (job-specific jargon) A lighthouse keeper, whose responsibilities typically included the tending and trimming of wicks for the light.
On 26 December 1900, a small ship was making its way to the Flannan Islands in the remote Outer Hebrides.
Its destination was the lighthouse at Eilean Mor, a remote island that (apart from its lighthouse keepers) was completely uninhabited. When the ship arrived on the island, the lighthouse was unlocked and two of three oil-skinned coats belonging to the men were missing.
The fire was out – and had been for some days – the kitchen area had half-eaten food, the chairs were overturned, and the clock had stopped. More importantly, the lighthouse lamp was out. The three men had vanished.
Wickies is based on the true story of James Ducat, Thomas Marshall and Donald MacArthur: a supernatural thriller that seeks to unravel the enduring mystery of the Vanishing Men of Eilean Mor. It stars Ewan Stewart, Thomas Marshall and Graeme Dalling, directed by Shilpa T Hyland.
Following the 7.30pm performance of Wickies on Tuesday 13 December 2022, I’ll talk to writer Paul Morrissey and the cast about the process of staging one of Scotland’s most enduring real-life mysteries. Any questions? Join us!
Terri Paddock founded WhatsOnStage.com and the WhatsOnStage Awards, running the company and its events from 1996 to 2013. Terri is also the author of two novels, Come Clean and Beware the Dwarfs, and has previously written for the Evening Standard, Independent, The Times and other national publications. She is renowned for her 'legendary' post-show Q&As and also produces the annual Critics' Circle Theatre Awards and acts as a digital, content strategy and event consultant for theatre, producers and other clients. She tweets about theatre at @TerriPaddock.
