For Lewis Hetherington, finding the extraordinary in the everyday is the key to unlocking the imagination. In fact, this message lies at the centre of the 31-year-old writer and director’s latest piece of theatre – The Secret Life of Suitcases.
Performed entirely through the medium of puppetry, the play begins by introducing its young audience to the main character, Larry, a regular guy who is somewhat obsessed with order and routine.
“He’s always busy, and we realise quickly that he’s so busy that he’s pretty much ignoring the world around him,” Lewis explained.
“But then this tiny blue suitcase arrives at his desk, though he has no idea where from. It seems to have a life of its own and starts hopping around the office and then begins to fly. Larry follows it out of the office and they go on this slightly madcap, cosmic journey.”
While fantastical, the play – which begins a month-long tour of north and west Scottish venues of all shapes and sizes next week – is not just for kids. As Lewis has found since he first piloted the play in the Scottish borders a year-and-a-half ago, “Suitcases” has been able to tap into the imaginations of all ages.
“It works nicely for kids and adults, because it’s all about a man who has forgotten how to play, and how to find the wonder in everyday things. Kids really follow that because play is such a natural thing for them. And as an adult, you think ‘oh, perhaps I’ve forgotten how to play too’,” he said.
The Secret Life of Suitcases represents the second piece of puppetry-based theatre devised jointly between Lewis and puppeteer/designer Ailie Cohen.
Their first collaboration, Cloudman, was well received across the globe, and “Suitcases” is showing signs of following in its footsteps to success, having secured a London run at the Unicorn Theatre later this year.
Though Lewis and Ailie have brainstormed the piece extensively together throughout its development, they soon divided the workload according to their respective areas of expertise – Lewis taking the lead on writing and directing, while Ailie set about designing and creating the puppets, set and props.
The initial interest in the eponymous suitcase sprung originally from Ailie’s fascination with the seemingly innocuous everyday item. It was a fascination Lewis quickly shared.
“We really became interested in suitcases and what they represent in terms of travel, adventure and as microcosms of someone’s life. And how they reveal something about you,” said Lewis.
And so the humble suitcase has proven an excellent foil for the plot’s main themes. With the additional on-stage talents of Ailie and her fellow puppeteer Rick Conte, and music composed by Niroshini Thambar, “Suitcases” seems a truly enchanting offering.
Puppetry, Lewis explained, has been the ideal medium for the play, but the whole picture is only complete when audiences open their imaginations – something which young audiences excel at.
“Most of the time, kids don’t have a sense of what theatre should or shouldn’t be, but as an adult you have preconceived notions,” he said.
“Kids also have this brilliant way of looking at things, when fact and fiction slide together. They know that Larry is a puppet, but they still really believe in him. They have this brilliant willingness to believe things and make this imaginative leap, and that sense of wonder actually helps adults to make that leap too.”
The Secret Life of Suitcases will tour throughout north Scotland in April, beginning with the Macphail Centre, Ullapool, on Tuesday April 1 at 2pm. Other venues on the tour include: Ionad Na Seann Sgoil, Lewis; Tarbert Community Centre, Harris; Balivanich Community Centre, Benbecula; Sabhal Mor Ostaig, Skye; Mull Theatre; Eden Court, Inverness; The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen; Mill Theatre, Thurso; Auldearn Primary School, Nairn; Glenurqhart Public Hall, Drumnadrochit; and Raasay Community Hall. The play is suitable for ages five and up, and has a running time of 50 minutes. For full tour information, visit www.secretsuitcases.com