The production will begin performances at the Park Theatre from the 30th November.

Based on the true story of  James Ducat, Thomas Marshall, and Donald MacArthur, lighthouse keepers who all mysteriously disappeared on December 15, 1900, casting has now been announced for this world premiere production.

Directed by Shilpa T-Hyland, Wickies: The Vanishing Men of Eilean Mor will star Ewan Stewart (Titanic, Witness for the Prosecution, River City) as James Ducat, Jamie Quinn (BBC’s Two Doors Down, The Lieutenant of Inishmore) as Thomas Marshall and Graeme Dalling (Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Let the Right One In) as Donald MacArthur.

On 26th December 1900, a small ship was making its way to the Flannan Islands in the remote Outer Hebrides.

Its destination was the lighthouse at Eilean Mor; a remote island which (apart from its lighthouse keepers) was completely uninhabited. When the ship arrived on the island, the lighthouse was unlocked and two of three oil skinned coats belonging to the men were missing. The fire was out – and had been for some days – the kitchen area had half eaten food, the chairs were overturned, and the clock had stopped. More importantly, the lighthouse lamp was out. The three men had vanished.

Writer and producer Paul Morrissey said, “I have always been fascinated by eerie islands. The isolation. The myths. The legends. The folklore. Maybe it’s because I grew up on one myself. And whilst my island home, I guess, isn’t that eerie, the folklore and stories passed down from generation to generation, most definitely are. The story of the vanishing men of Eilean Mor takes that to a whole new level. The ingredients are a gift for any writer. A lighthouse. Frequent and violent storms. Three very different men confined to a small building with the same aim: to guide and protect. To light the way. But something happened. The men seemingly vanished without a trace. Did one of them go mad and kill the other two? Were they taken by a freak wave? Or perhaps they were kidnapped by Pirates? Whatever the reason, what is true, is that they’ve never been seen since. The question I started with was, where was the light that night?”

The production is set to feature music by Niall Bailey, set and costume design by Zoe Hurwitz, lighting design by Bethany Gupwell and sound design by Nik Paget-Tomlinson. 

Wickies: The Vanishing Men will play at the Park Theatre from the 30th November until the 31st December.