The fruits of a Dundee playwright’s trip down memory lane recalling berry-picking in the 1970s is set for a revival this summer.
Gary Robertson’s The Berries Twa an’ a Half Pence a Pund will make its debut at Dundee’s Rep Theatre in August after two successful runs in 2009 and 2010.
Gary, 46, said: “We ran it twice at the Bonar Hall and the dream for me was to get it at the Rep. They eventually went for it, which was pretty exciting.
“Nothing really needs adjusted with it it’s tried and tested. It’s a flashback to 1974 and a day in the life of four berry pickers from Fintry.
“It’s really to take people back to a time when a lot of people in the schemes used to go to the berries. Times were hard and people needed the money, so it’s a look back to an era that’s gone now.
“You find out about the characters through the day’s picking and there’s also a couple of wee twists in it.”
The play features Gary’s wife, Sue, who was in the original production, and includes music from the time.
Gary said: “Three of the cast are still the same and there’s a possibility I’ll be playing the part of Rab the foreman.
“I’ve never done any stage stuff in my puff. I’m up for it though. It would be something completely different for me.”
Apart from the play, author and poet Gary has been kept busy with his band the Cundeez who have recently played a string of dates around the UK.
He said: “A lot of the focus has been with the band, but it’s been a great sidetrack to get the play back on.
“I really want to get a play written about the binmen set in the 1970s. It’s something I’ve been saying to people for a long time.
“There’s so much content there. The material is there, but I need to just sit down and write it.”
The Berries Twa an a Half Pence a Pund runs at the Rep from August 21 to August 24.