LOCH MORAR ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

Set against the haunting landscape of the West Highlands, Beastie draws audiences into the mystery of Morag — the elusive creature said to lurk beneath the dark waters of Loch Morar. Thanks to support from Creative Scotland in 2025, FLAGSTONE THEATRE were able to bring the production to its final form by returning to the place where the story begins.

As part of the development process, we travelled to the village of Morar to explore the folklore surrounding Loch Morar and gather the voices of the people who live alongside its legend. Through a series of oral history interviews, we spoke to believers, skeptics, storytellers, and locals whose lives have all, in different ways, been touched by the myth of Morag.

These conversations became the beating heart of an immersive audio experience. The interviews were transcribed and reimagined as a collection of character monologues, performed and recorded by Highland voice actors at Eden Court Theatre. The resulting soundscape was woven throughout Beastie, surrounding audiences with fragments of memory, folklore, and testimony — while also existing as a standalone listening experience before and after the show, in the auditorium and dedicated sound booths.

You can now experience these voices for yourself — either by listening to the audio recordings or by reading the full monologues below.

Credits
Created as part of Beastie with support from Creative Scotland and Eden Court Theatre.
Oral history interviews conducted in and around Morar, with thanks to all involved, including the Mallaig and Morar Community Association, Viv and Fiona de Fresnes, Megan Maclellan, Alistair Macleod, Adrine Shine, Michael Foxley, James Macdonald Reid.

Vocal credits: Ellen Macdonald, Brian Maitland, Megan MacDonald and Gordon J Millar