The National Theatre of Scotland has revealed the Scottish beaches that will take part in Pages of the Sea, Director Danny Boyle’s nationwide Armistice Day commission for 14-18 NOW, marking the end of the First World War. The Company will lead the Scottish arm of the project on six beaches across Scotland:

• St Ninian’s Isle beach, Shetland
• West Sands, St Andrews
• Scapa beach, Orkney
• Ayr Beach
• Burghead Bay beach, Moray Firth
• Cula Bay beach, Isle of Benbecula

On the 11 November 2018, members of the public and local communities are invited to gather on these beaches for an informal, nationwide gesture of remembrance for the men and women who left their home shores during the First World War, many of them never to return. The remembrance will centre on the drawing of a large-scale portrait of a casualty from the conflict with a connection to that community, designed by sand artists Sand in Your Eye, which will be washed away as the tide comes in.

In addition, the public will be asked to join in by creating silhouettes of people in the sand, marking the millions of lives lost or changed forever during the conflict. Director Danny Boyle has also invited Scottish poet Carol Ann Duffy to write a new poem, which will be read by individuals, families, and communities as they gather on beaches across the UK and Ireland, where copies will also be available for anyone wishing to make a personal contribution to the remembrance.

The National Theatre of Scotland will run local workshops ahead of the event on 11 November, and invites members of these communities to come and learn details of how they can play a part on the day. Members of the public are also invited to explore an online gallery of portraits from some of the men and women who served during the First World War, saying a personal goodbye either by selecting from those drawn from the Imperial War Museum collection, or adding their own images of someone from their family or community who served during the conflict.

Pages of the Sea is commissioned and produced by 14-18 NOW, the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary, and delivered with partner organisations across the UK: National Trust; Activate Performing Arts; Creative Foundation; Eden Project; National Theatre Scotland; Nerve Centre; Swansea City Council and Sunderland Culture.

For more information visit pagesofthesea.org.uk