Caledonia is a story of greed; euphoria and mass delusion. It is the story of a small; poor country mistaking itself for a place that is both big and rich. It is an ancient story for modern times.William Paterson was a financial adventurer who in 1698 devised one of the most daring and disastrous speculations of all time. His plan: to found a Scottish colony in Darien on the isthmus of Panama in Central America and turn Scotland; one of the poorest nations in Europe; into a prosperous colonial power. He invited the public to invest. And they did - in a big way. Within weeks a vast proportion of the nations wealth had been subscribed.What went wrong? Distance; disease; corruption and culpability all played a part in this ruinous episode. Within a few years; the Scots - demoralised and impoverished - gave up their nations independent status and signed the 1707 Treaty of Union with England. Inspired by documents; journals; letters; songs and poems of the period; celebrated playwright and satirist Alistair Beaton has created a work that is both a tribute to heroic ambition and a darkly witty take on the deceptions and self-deceptions of rich and poor alike. Caledonia will headline the Edinburgh International Festival; in a co-production with the National Theatre of Scotland and directed by Anthony Neilson; opening on 13 August 2010.
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Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. biased as a true lover of all things FugardBy ErinWhat can I say about works that explore death and works by Athol Fugard but that Im a sucker for them.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Throat-catchingly beautifulBy Keen ReaderMy first-ever reading of Fugard. Precisely demonstrates the perspectives of maturity and youth in a way that all can understand. I am 59 years old today and it hit home!