Perth Festival of the Arts 2026

Long Water Soft Shadows is a powerful, immersive theatre performance showing Scotland’s rising stars in poetry and exploring humanity’s fragile relationship with its most precious resource: water. Produced by renowned poet Jim Mackintosh with sound design by Dave MacFarlane, the work weaves spoken word - written especially for the piece by three emerging poets Taylor Dyson, Donna Matthew and Jennie Turnbull - with music, songs and images. Creative visuals by Elizabeth Ogilvie & Robert Page draw the audience in, echoing currents and shadows, while the gentle power of Craigie Choir, led by vocalist and composer Debra Salem, rises and recedes like breath. Poet John Quinn’s wise, resonant narration gives voice to The Water itself, grounded by live music threaded through by Sean Bissett on guitar. Together, these elements reflect on industrial use and misuse, community access, and the urgent reality of global water poverty. We didn’t know we were ready. We must be ready. 17:30 AND 20:00 | MON 25 MAY | PERTH THEATRE STUDIO TICKETS £12.50 P E R T H F E S T I V A L O F T H E A R T S 10 SCOTLAND TRENDINGWORDS LONG WATER SOFT SHADOWS BUY AT PERTH THEATRE BOX OFFICE