Empty Chair is a socially engaged verbatim theatre project that explores the themes of loss and loneliness through an innovative community-based process. The final piece will be a theatre production and an accompanying audio-guided walking play, taking audiences on a physical journey across Mull's stunning landscape, whilst following the story of a woman grappling with loss and disconnection.

Phase One involved workshops and interviews with participants aged 50+ in Glasgow and Mull. We collected a range of material from conversations to postcards and poetry, which connected real-life stories to locations of personal significance. We then developed a script with a team of generous collaborators, weaving our material into a journey that invites audiences to explore our themes alongside Mull's magical landscape.

The next phase, supported by Thistledown Arts and Peter Unsworth, will refine the piece with our team, actors, and community participants. Two weeks of community R&D on Mull will deepen the connection between our story and physical locations, explore the piece's sonic and visual elements, re-engage with local creatives, and culminate in a public sharing at Mull Theatre. By the end of this process, we’ll have a finished script, a recorded scratch performance, and we will have facilitated a programme of activity that celebrates Mull's immense creativity and shares some of the poignant stories we have uncovered.

The Empty Chair Project

Created by Eve Jamieson & Ben Standish

Actors & Collaborators:
Lawrence Boothman
Michael Guest
Francesca Hess
Eve Jamieson
Katya Searle

Directed by Ben Standish

Supported by:
Thistledown Arts
Peter Unsworth
RCS Innovation Studio
An Tobar & Mull Theatre
Creative Scotland
The Citizens Theatre

With special thanks to Megan Fraser, Raymond Wilson, Andi Stevens, Neil Packham, Delma Walsh, James Carne, Mona Keeling, Stephanie Edwards, Raw Material, Luminate, and all the inspiring and creative people who have shaped the project so far.

Filmmaker - Jacob Gandy