Interview with Milly Sweeney: Water Colour Premieres Tonight at Pitlochry

“Once I’d decided I was going to write a play featuring the Clyde, I took myself for a walk down there one summer afternoon. I brought my notebook with me, and jotted down everything I could see, smell, hear and how it all made me feel,” says playwright Milly Sweeney. “I was inspired by the juxtaposition of the calm water, and wildlife, combined with the cool graffiti, skateboarders and chaotic Glaswegians passing by. Things that shouldn’t work together, but just do.”

This vivid mix of contrasts became the emotional foundation for Water Colour, Sweeney’s debut play and winner of the 2024 St Andrews Playwriting Award. Opening at Pitlochry Festival Theatre tonight, 9 May, before transferring to the Byre Theatre later in the month, the production promises an evocative portrait of connection, isolation and mental health.

A City Alive with Contrasts

Sweeney says she turned her riverside observations into a poem that ultimately became the prologue of the play. “This sets the tone for Water Colour nicely as contrast plays a large part in the story – Esme and Harris, depression and hope, light and dark.” Directed by the award-winning Sally Reid, the production follows Esme, a struggling art student, and Harris, a young chef on the rise. Their fleeting encounter on a Glasgow bridge shapes the emotional trajectory of both their lives.

“I was inspired by the juxtaposition of the calm water, and wildlife, combined with the cool graffiti, skateboarders and chaotic Glaswegians passing by. Things that shouldn’t work together, but just do.”

According to Sweeney, the play taps into a longing for human connection that feels especially urgent in the wake of the pandemic. “As a culture, we are craving connection right now. The two-and-a-bit years we spent physically isolating due to Covid has left us emotionally isolated. We’re all so used to keeping our heads down, and minding our own business, that we have no room for each other. It’s something I’m working on in myself – being a bit more open to the people around me.”

Exploring Men’s Mental Health

While Esme’s struggles are central, Water Colour also examines the hidden pressures on men like Harris. “In recent years we’ve seen a boom in male mental health advocacy, which has been incredible, but we need to keep on that trajectory, and keep adding nuance to the conversation,” says Sweeney.

She is clear about the stakes: “When young men don’t feel acknowledged or supported in their feelings, their sadness and shame can transform into something more dangerous. If Water Colour can play a small part in destigmatising discussions surrounding male’s mental health, I’ll have achieved what I set out to do.”

An Honest Glaswegian Voice

Despite being her debut, Water Colour has already caught the attention of judges and audiences, winning the prestigious St Andrews Playwriting Award and earning a professional commission. “I’m honestly not sure!” Sweeney says when asked why her voice has cut through. “I think Water Colour must have just resonated with the right people at the right time. I like to think that it’s quite an honest piece of writing – I don’t shy away from any of the harsh realities of mental illness. I also think it’s distinctly Glaswegian, which works in its favour.”

Sweeney’s connection to the city infuses the play. “As a young adult living in Glasgow, I drew from my own experiences and that of my friends. I know I’m biased, as I’ve lived here my whole life, but I think Glasgow is a really cool place to come of age. Especially as a creative – I feel surrounded by art and culture. I also think that gallus Glaswegian attitude has really held up over time.”

Staging and Creative Team

The production, co-produced by Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Byre Theatre, and Playwrights’ Studio Scotland, boasts an impressive creative lineup. Directed by Sally Reid, with design by Natalie Fern, lighting by Adam Bowers, and sound by Ross Brown, the show also benefits from the movement direction of Steve Lauder-Russell and dramaturgy by Frances Poet.The cast features Molly Geddes as Esme and Ryan J Mackay as Harris, with both actors bringing notable stage and screen experience.

Water Colour runs at Pitlochry Festival Theatre Studio until 17 May, before moving to the Byre Theatre on 28 and 29 May.

“When young men don’t feel acknowledged or supported in their feelings, their sadness and shame can transform into something more dangerous. If Water Colour can play a small part in destigmatising discussions surrounding male’s mental health, I’ll have achieved what I set out to do.”

The St Andrews Playwriting Award, established in 2022, provides an emerging Scottish playwright with a commission, professional production, and tailored development support. For Sweeney, it has been a transformative opportunity: “The award has been an incredible chance to share a story I feel deeply connected to and to see it come to life with such a talented team.”

Audiences can expect a story of fragility and resilience, shaped by the pulse of Glasgow and the honest voices of its young people. As Sweeney puts it, “It brings hope when the characters believe there is none and hopefully the audience will feel that sense of uplifting hope when they leave.”