THE HIGHWAYMAN

Edinburgh Festival 2008

By BAHAR BRUNTON

Based on the poem by ALFRED NOYES

Directed by RACHEL VALENTINE SMITH

The moon is a ribbon of moonlight over the purple-moor.
The ostler waits to be noticed. 
Bess waits for her love.
The landlord waits for his daughter to choose a groom.
The soldiers wait for their opportunity.
The Highwayman comes riding,
Riding-riding,
The Highwayman comes riding up to the old inn door…

A cautionary tale from the 18th Century comes hurtling into 2008. Strong aesthetics, powerful language and haunting music draw us into the fractured world of Noyes’ classic poem.

Exploring love, jealousy, betrayal and sacrifice, this new play makes an old classic as relevant to today’s audience as it has been to all the readers who have treasured it over the last two hundred years.

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