14 May – 8 June, Finborough Theatre, London

A long overdue opportunity for London to see this unforgettable story of displacement and survival in war-torn Europe – a powerful allegory for all victims of war.

Presented by Dogstar Theatre Company in association with Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre.

“I come from a farm, from the forests and fields of green Ukraine. From the resettlement camps of Germany.
From the beaches of the Adriatic. …And the cool air of Inverness.”

A true story of journeys of how a boy who grew up on a farm in Galicia (then in Eastern Poland, now in Western Ukraine) came to be a tailor in Inverness…

His life spanned most of the 20th century. Taken prisoner by the Soviets in 1939 and forced to work, he was freed in an amnesty after the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, and joined the thousands of Poles fighting with the British Army in North Africa and Italy. He was then resettled in Britain in 1948, joining his brother in Glasgow.

This is the story he told.

But was the tailor really who he said he was?

Combining storytelling, songs, poetry and physicality with a rich soundscape of live fiddle music and effects, Matthew Zajac’s stunning play about his Polish father has entranced over 40,000 people, playing in a huge variety of venues in twelve countries, from sold-out runs in prestigious theatres in cities such as New York, Adelaide, Kyiv, Malmo, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Brussels, Dublin, Lublin, Lviv, Copenhagen and Berlin to tiny village halls in the Scottish Highlands. Its many awards include a Scotsman Fringe First, The Stage Best Solo Performer Award and Best Actor at the CATS (Critics Awards for Theatre In Scotland) Awards.

Written and performed by Matthew Zajac
Directed by Ben Harrison
Design by Ali Maclaurin
Lighting by Kai Fischer
Music by Jonny Hardie and Gavin Marwick
Sound by Timothy Brinkhurst
Presented by Dogstar Theatre Company in association with Neil McPherson for
the Finborough Theatre
Performed by Matthew Zajac and violinists Jonny Hardie or Amy Geddes

About

THE TAILOR OF INVERNESS, written & performed by Matthew Zajac with Jonny Hardie/Amy Geddes on fiddle, will run for 4 weeks at London’s Finborough Theatre May 14 – June 8 2024. 

The show has won numerous awards and played nearly 300 times at festivals and theatres across the world.  Director Ben Harrison, Designer Ali Maclaurin.

“A towering piece of work with a glorious performance by the author” Sunday Independent Ireland

THE TESTAMENT OF GIDEON MACK by James Robertson, adapted for the stage by Matthew Zajac, will tour mid-scale venues across Scotland from February 13-March15 2025. The show will feature an ensemble of 8 actors.  Director Meghan de Chastelain, Designer Kenneth Macleod, Composer Daragh Lynch (Lankum), Lighting Grant Anderson.

‘In the hands of great writers, the unlikeliest stories are generally the most rewarding…Overwhelmingly compassionate and thought-provoking.’ Irvine Welsh, Guardian

SPARK – THE HIGHLAND NEW PLAY FESTIVAL ran for the very first time at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness from 18th-21st January 2024, a long weekend of play readings, performed extracts of new plays and industry talks with late-night music and spoken word socials.

“…maybe the best ever Highland located event…the quality and talent involved were amazing.” Catherine MacNeil, Audience

NIGHTLANDS by Jack Macgregor completed a successful run at SUMMERHALL Fringe Festival 2022 with sold out performances, winning a Summerhall LUSTRUM AWARD.  

“…an engaging piece of new writing from an incredibly exciting emerging artist, backed by a brilliant cast…” Theatre Weekly

ARCTIC WINDS PART 1

NIGHTLANDS & THE FALLEN ANGELS OF THE MOINE by George Gunn, were produced and filmed in 2022. Directors Jack Macgregor & Matthew Zajac

More details and Tickets: The Tailor of Inverness – Finborough Theatre