The HotTrod Theatre Company was commissioned by The Wilson’s Tales Project to deliver a new dramatic rendering from the bank of Scottish Borders tales which once appeared weekly in the Berwick Advertiser. They were so popular they were reprinted for a century and found favour as far away as Australia and America. These stories, some based on real events, were all the rage and a recent initiative is working to republish them all in modern-day language so as not to lose this cultural body of work.
Nichol’s reworking resulted in The Wars of Patie Crichton. Writer and performer, John Nichol, fuses two tales to create a warm, homely story featuring two actors and a chair. It was greatly appreciated by the full house at the Duns Play Fest. A couple’s misunderstanding results in misery for them both. In an earnest attempt to escape bickering and recapture the warmth of the love of his life (his wife) Patie Crichton takes up arms.
Nichol, a well-kent face in the Borders theatre world, first met J M Wilson’s stories back in the 1980s when the Rowan Tree Company, led by Judy Steel, presented a dramatised adaptation of J M Wilson’s Willie Wastle’s Account of his Wife. Directed by Judy Steel and performed by John Nichol, this particular re-enactment met with huge success throughout the Borders and beyond. When approached to devise a new play, Nichol was attracted to The Hen-pecked Man for its similarities in language, subject matter and humour to Willie Wastle. He renamed, remodelled and extended the story to create The Wars of Patie Crichton.
Iain Fraser added depth and texture with original music, plus the odd nonsensical line as Davie the Douk.
This one-night show at the Duns Play Fest sees the launch of this entertaining Scots writing. It was part of a line up which included Borders Pub Theatre and some charming busking in the foyer. Duns Play Fest is a young festival founded by John McEwen in 2019 and expanding year on year.
Reviewer: Kathleen Mansfield
Reviewed: 5th May 2026
North West End UK Rating: