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Write idea could help Nairn drama club


By Donald Wilson

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Jean Morrison outside The Little Theatre, Nairn..Picture: Callum Mackay..
Jean Morrison outside The Little Theatre, Nairn..Picture: Callum Mackay..

One hundred days of lockdown in poetry was the challenge undertaken by a Nairn woman who is now hoping to get her works published.

Jean Morrison embarked on writing the series of poems after writing a funny verse to her pals, many who are members of Nairn Drama Club, to keep them entertained and to help keep in touch when the Coronavirus kicked in a year ago.

"We thought at the time it was going to be a long haul but never envisaged it would be this long," said Jean, a 68 year-old granny and stalwart of many productions treading the boards at the club's Little Theatre.

"I just wrote a funny poem, everyone liked it so I said I would do one a day to try and keep our peckers up during lockdown.

"I didn't think I would be doing it for so long. But as the pandemic continue I decided to keep it going until I reached the 100th day."

Now Jean, who has written plays for the club and had them performed in their quaint 70 seater theatre, wants to see if there is a demand for her poetic efforts.

"I'm hoping if I can get enough interest I'll get them printed and I'll give the proceeds to the club, possibly towards a production of Aladdin which I wrote in 2016.

"I would like would be to perform the panto this Christmas if possible. I am hoping that the lockdown will be over by then and we can all get together again.

"The pantomime at the Little Theatre is a great tradition in Nairn. It usually runs for 14 days and is always sold out. It brings families together and of course the club members love performing.

"It will give us something to look forward to and if the lockdown or restrictions do carry on to next year we would just delay the performance. I am sure in the meantime we will be able to begin rehearsals on-line."

Jean said the poems covered a range of genres from humour to sadness and sometimes thought provoking issues.

"I wrote one about my son Terry's wedding. It was a biker's wedding at the Courthouse in Nairn. I arrived at the Courthouse with his bride-to be on my motorbike trike.

"After the wedding we all set off as a family to the TT races in the Isle of Man.

During lockdown Jean has also acted as a Widow Twankie Agony Aunt on the Nairn Rocks facebook page, a role she played in her own drama production of Aladdin.

"My roles in panto usually are playing the village idiot. I don't have to work very hard at it!"

Jean is hoping her mix of poetry will prove a winner and is trying to get feedback from friends.

"I may launch a JustGiving page to get funding and go for it. And all the proceeds will go towards us having a panto, if it's allowed, for Nairn this year..or next."

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