Unusual, uncomfortable and unexpected, “clan chief” MacGillivray’s performance of poems at Pighog Press’s launch of her collection The Last Wolf Of Scotland will be remembered.

Research for her doctorate in performance and Scottish identity inspired this imaginative work, which retells the story of Robert McGee through his dreams.

Famous for being scalped in the Wild West by Sioux under the command of Little Turtle, McGee miraculously lived to tell the tale of savage attack and slaughter, and came to Scotland with Buffalo Bill’s cowboy shows.

There is no doubt that hers is a book worth more than a flick through; MacGillivray’s use of language is as rich as her theme. Regrettably, while her delivery as a whispering storyteller caused all present to sit up and take note, it became wearing because of difficulties understanding her diction.

MacGillivray’s website confirms she is a woman of artistic talent with confidence to experiment; in this case, however, she would have done better to let the work, a coup for Pighog, speak for itself.

Also on the bill were guest poet Astrid Alben, reading from Ai! Ai! Pianissimo, published by Arc, and Pighog favourite Maria Jastrzebska.

  • The next Pighog Plus! event takes place at Redroaster on Thursday, November 28