William Hershaw

Michael, A Ballad Play in Scots by William Hershaw, is based on the character of Michael Scot of Balwearie, the 12th century philosopher, translator, polymath, alchemist and reputed wizard. Hershaw has combined the historical and folk myth aspects of the Michael Scot legend to create a gripping portrayal of a troubled soul who attempts to destroy the universe in order to prove the existence of God.Written in lively and accessible Scots, the play takes Scottish drama to new places by placing a cast of devils and historical figures (including Robert Burns and Jimmy Shand) in the setting of tradition ballads and folklore. The result is a tragic but life-affirming tale brimful with dark humour, magic, horror and contemporary relevance.Michael is a play that will be enjoyed by anyone who is interested in the dark side of the Scottish psyche or who loves contemporary drama, Scottish literature, language, folk music and traditional song. But the play's scope extends, like Michael Scot himself, well beyond national boundaries. This is a play which deals with free will, Science and Religion and ultimately, our place in the universe.

Saul Vaigers (Scots for "Soul Travellers") is a unique collaboration between award winning poet William Hershaw and artist Les McConnell. Based on the concept of a breviary or prayer book, the beautifully designed pamphlet by Gonzalo Mazzei from Grace Note Publications is a calendar of Saints, each related to Scotland, its medieval shrines and pilgrims' routes. The poems and stunning artwork deal with themes of maintaining faith and hope through difficult times and are highly relevant in the context of today's world. Each section comes with an explanatory note. This is a book that will be treasured by a range of folk who are interested in walking, poetry, Scottish landscapes, history and religion. The combined overall quality is stunning.

'Earth Bound Companions' is a collection of poems written about animals in Scots and English by Poet William Hershaw, with illustrations by Artist Les McConnell. The title is taken from the Robert Burns poem 'To A Mouse'. The poems and paintings were originally exhibited at the Fire Station Creative Gallery in Dunfermline, Scotland, in March 2020. The pamphlet was designed and published by Grace Note Publications.

The Sair Road written by William Hershaw and illustrated by Les McConnell is a poem sequence written in Scots based on the Stations of the Cross and set in Fife during the coal mining strikes of the twentieth century. It is being published by Grace Note Publications in 2018 to co-incide with the exhibition Hewers of Coal and Verse at the Lochgelly Centre which will celebrate the life and work of the Cardenden dramatist and playwright Joe Corrie, (1894 -1968) as well as the lesser known miner poets Peter "Pindar" Leslie, (1835 - 1905) and Robert McLeod, (1876 - 1958). Les McConnell's drawings of the Stations of the Cross will form part of the exhibition which runs from 4th of May until the 8th of August, 2018 at the Lochgelly Centre, FifeBlessit are thaim wi a drouth for richtIn The Sair Road by William Hershaw pays tribute to miners and their communities, setting their tragedies and resilience in the context of the last days of Christ. The structure of the Stations of the Cross (plus a song and some fine Beatitudes by way of conclusion) works well. And there's a helpful introduction, setting out his purpose. His rich, authentic Scots is well-suited to express this drouth for richt. That he can find humour as well as pathos as the story relentlessly unfolds, is a measure of his skill. Les McConnell's drawings are a potent addition to the words - transforming the biblical narrative to a 20th century Fife coal-mining landscape. With their powerful words and images these two artists have revealed the dignity of a mining community. King Coal was a bad old cuif: Spine-snapper, baa-squeezer, jaw-drapper, Knee-capper, airm-twister, dislocater, wife-slapper, Bairn-beater, son-stealer, saul-pauchler, undertaker, Doo-strangler, match-fixer, Compensation-refuser, inquest-wrangler ...... Despair-warseler, telegram-bringer, (Amang other hings).Review by Christine DeLucaWilliam Hershaw evokes the downfall - or rather, the planned and systematic destruction - of Scotland's mining industry in plain authentic Scots, using verse of which the measured and disciplined tread highlights, rather than veiling, the anger which the story arouses; and in an audacious but devastatingly effective move, presents the narrative as a re-enactment of the Biblical account of Christ's journey to the Cross. The Sair Road is a noble memorial to a proud but doomed part of Scottish social history; but it is also a triumphant affirmation, unexpected in modern literature, of faith in God and in the indomitable strength of human nature. The poems, together with Les McConnell's memorable illustrations, form one of the outstanding works of contemporary Scottish literature. Review by Derrick McClure

Jennie Lee's Homework Project by William Hershaw, a play suitable for upper primary/lower secondary school ages.'Jennie Lee is a girl who seems switched off from school, family and life. Then a visit to a local castle where an archaeological dig is taking place results in an accident, taking her back in time to a meeting with her famous namesake . . .

The Tempest by William Shakespeare,translated into Scots by William HershawPrize-winning poet William Hershaw has written a compelling Scots language version of WilliamShakespeare's last play The Tempest. It is set in Scotland during a regency period where powerful nobles form alliances to win power. Prospero, the book obsessed Earl of Fife, is usurped by his treacherous brother Antonio who has made a pact with the Duke of Argylle. Prospero and his young daughter Miranda are cast adrift and left for dead in the North Sea but they find refuge on a remote enchanted island. Here Prospero perfects his sorcerer's powers to such an extent that twelve years later he is able to summon a storm that shipwrecks his enemies and leaves them at his mercy. From this choice between revenge and reconciliation a wonderful love story grows ...William Hershaw's play will fascinate anyone who is interested in Shakespeare, Scots language or simply who loves a good story well told. It is a play that will go down particularly well in the classroom at Higher and National 5 level where the range of characters (including the reluctant coal miner Caliban and the freedom seeking spirit Ariel) and range of engaging themes make it a text that will tick many teacher's boxes. Hershaw's presentation of the Scots language is readable and accessible.Included with William Hershaw's Tempest is The Voices O The Abbey Waas, a play set in haunted Dunfermline Abbey where the troubled consciences of Andrew Carnegie and a mine explosion survivor from Valleyfield colliery are brought together in the afterlife by the medieval poet Robert Henryson to settle their differences.

My name is Tammy Norrie - I am a hoose daemon, spirit, invisible ghost - eel, animus - whatever you choose to call me. I bide in and haunt an old fisherman's cottage called Jonah's Neuk at Seahouses on the cold windy coast of Northumberland. Sadly, the generations of fisher folk who lived in former days in Jonah's Neuk have all set sail for Fiddler's Green now. Belle, Willie The Scotsman, Old Hilda, Young Bert, Young Hilda, Doris. Only me left here. Me and Nicey. The house was sold eighteen months ago after Young Hilda passed away at the age of one hundred and seven and converted into a holiday home for tourists who come to the North East. But not as regularly as the new owner, Farquhair Tinkerson, hoped when he had the house renovated for his modern holiday clients. -