Dear Pig

Synopsis

Scottish island of Jura, 1945

Phoebe, David (Barrel), and Bridie (Beef) are sent to the island for refuge from the chaos of World War II. They are placed under the care of the austere Edie Weep and a mysterious figure who may or may not be the writer George Orwell, accompanied by his wife, Eileen O’Shaunessy.

The play interweaves the children’s adventurous and sometimes darkly humorous attempts to adjust to their new environment with the more surreal and fragmented experiences of Eileen, who appears to be recounting her memories from a hospital bed. Through this blend of reality and memory, the play explores themes of war, childhood resilience, the impact of isolation, and the power of imagination. As the children navigate the peculiarities of their new life, they uncover secrets and confront the emotional scars left by the war.