AN AYRSHIRE stage director is returning to the region for his highly anticipated new show - a musical based on committed Greenpeace activists who take on oil giants Shell.
The show is inspired by a true story when protesters occupied the Brent Spar oil store in the middle of the North Sea.
Andy McGregor, who hails from Largs, has co-written the new musical 'To Save the Sea' with Isla Cowan.
The show launches in Glasgow this week, and will be coming to The Gaiety Theatre in Ayr on October 16, and The Beacon Theatre in Greenock on October 22, during its run.
It is described as an epic adventure about Scotland and the world, about saving the environment and standing up for what you truly believe in.
Despite the serious topic, it focusses on the tenacity of the protesters in the face of the oil giants and the impact they had on the world at the time.
It includes a mix of drama and comedy and even shows a scene portraying former PM John Major carrying out a striptease as he gets excited about the prospect of oil rich possibilities.
Andy McGregor said: "This is a unique show, unlike anything Scotland has seen before, and we are very excited to be bringing it to life before touring all over the country
"To Save The Sea has everything you need in a musical – from dramatic real life events to entertaining interludes, there are good stories as well as good tunes.
"There are vibrant characters, battles, celebrations, giant water cannons and unexpected explosions.
"Heart-breaking ballads, outrageous villains, rock music and even comedic cabaret songs.
"There’s homesickness, seasickness, and epic sea-shanties. All the while asking important questions about Scotland, oil, and the environment."
The story is told by a stellar cast of eight bringing together a great mix of musical theatre stalwarts and graduates fresh from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Andy continued: "From the start we aimed for this not to be preachy but to tell the story which has serious elements and some big fun silly numbers.
"In essence, it is an adventure story. It is the mid-90s so issues such as global warming had not arrived on the scene, and it is really a piece about normal people who came together for a common cause and won against the giant oil companies and making them change their minds, and how often does that ever happen?
"So we thought it was a story worth retelling in the unique style of Sleeping Warrior productions."
Andy revealed that the production decided to poke some fun at John Major in the play, with the PM even featuring in a comedic striptease scene.
He added: "He starts off as the blandest man possible and as the song 'Drill Baby Drill' progresses, he gets more excited about oil and we have a ridiculous striptease dance!"
For tickets, go to sleepingwarriortheatre.com/to-save-the-sea.
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