The much loved classic film, Local Hero, is the inspiration for this new stage adaptation about a remote Scottish community engulfed in negotiation with the all-powerful Knox Oil with its eye on acquiring the landscape to build an oil refinery. 

Book writer David Greig and composer of the legendary film score, Mark Knopfler, have together created this new musical. 

Commissioned and developed by Neal Street Productions and Patrick Daly of Caledonia Productions, the World Premiere was staged at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh opening 23rd March 2019. The sold-out season was extended due to popular demand following wide-spread critical acclaim. 

Daniel Evans directed a new musical version of Local Hero which showed at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre from 8th October - 19th November, 2022. 

"Local Hero: a beloved film turned into a remarkable musical comedy."

About

It’s 1983 and hotshot Texan oil executive Mac MacIntyre is dispatched to the tiny Scottish fishing village of Ferness with $30million in his pocket. The bay may have views to die for but it’s the only place that can take the tankers from an offshore oil field, so it’s up to Mac to seal a deal on the locals’ homes and put a refinery in their place.

The villagers aren’t averse to cashing in on the black gold and Gordon, the local hotelier-lawyer-accountant-ceilidh organiser, proves a surprisingly tough negotiator.

But they’ve all overlooked one very important person. And as the northern lights dance in the skies, Mac comes to realise that not everything of value is for sale.

Key Creatives & Cast

Key Creatives:
Book by David Greig
Music and lyrics by Mark Knopfler
Original film written and directed by Bill Forsyth and produced by David Puttnam

Creatives for Chichester Festival Theatre:
Directed by Daniel Evans
Design by Frankie Bradshaw
Lighting by Paule Constable and Ryan Day
Sound Design by Paul Arditti
Music Produced by Guy Fletcher
Casting by Charlotte Sutton CDG
Projections by Ash J Woodward

Productions

Chichester Festival Theatre. 8th October - 19th November, 2022

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The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh. 14th March - 4th May, 2019 

 

 

Reviews

"Cherished movie becomes marvellous musical"    
 Edinburgh 2019

Financial Times

"Local Hero: a beloved film turned into a remarkable musical comedy. Bill Forsyth's famous 1983 movie gets a dazzling stage makeover in this new production at Chichester Festival Theatre”.        
18th October 2022

Daily Telegraph