Quartz

by Catherine Czerkawska

Michael is a young man, living in contented isolation on a West of Scotland beach and making artworks with the pebbles and shells, the flotsam and jetsam he finds there. He is perfectly happy, but the people around him find his isolation disturbing, and when he comes upon an object washed ashore that may or may not be man-made, the world outside threatens to invade his solitude, with potentially disastrous consequences. Quartz, a full length stage play by award winning writer Catherine Czerkawska, was first performed at Edinburgh's Traverse Theatre on Friday 4th February 2000, with Liam Brennan as Michael, Maggie McCarthy as Teresa, Alice Bree as Claire and Paul Nivison as Father Sweeney. The production was directed by Roxana Silbert. What the critics ‘The story of a man living in serene, solitary communion with the sea and its shoreline, his idyll threatened only by the outside world's refusal to leave him alone, could easily lead to all manner of quasi-mystical woolliness. Instead, Catherine Czerkawska's new play offers a moving, poetic and quietly provocative meditation on contrasting values and belief systems, and on the destructive potential of love, while keeping its feet firmly on the ground in terms of attention to plot, character and dialogue. Sue Wilson, The Independent, February 2000. ‘THE central icon in Catherine Czerkawska's new play is a lump of flotsam. Standing upright, it has the look of a woman's body. It is rough-hewn and uneven, but in certain lights quite beautiful. This is much the same as the play itself. Set on a West Coast beach, it's about Michael, a young man earnestly seeking solace and solitude among the elements as he works the precious stones the tide brings him. His mother, a devout Irish Catholic, has other ideas, not least when she decides his latest driftwood find is prime shrine material. In the character of Michael, Czerkawska has hit upon a fascinating what is it about our herd instinct that makes us so distressed by other people's isolation?’ Mark Fisher, The Herald, February 2000

113 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

I’m a novelist, historian and experienced professional playwright, living and working in Scotland.

I write warm, intelligent and grown-up stories - some historical, some contemporary and some a mixture of both. I have more than 100 hours of BBC radio drama to my name as well as many professional theatre productions.

My fiction and non-fiction was previously published by Saraband, now by Dyrock Publishing, and some of my plays by Nick Hern Books.

My fiction includes The Physic Garden, a Scottish historical novel about an early nineteenth century gardener, his love for weaver's daughter Jenny and his friendship with botanist Dr Thomas Brown. Set in Glasgow, this is a moving and engrossing story of friendship and betrayal.

The Jewel, published in May 2016 is a luscious historical novel, bringing to glorious life the dramatic years of Jean Armour and Robert Burns's courtship and their tempestuous, married life against a background simmering with political intrigue and turmoil. For Jean is a selection of poems, songs and letters written by the poet with Jean Armour in mind

The Curiosity Cabinet is set on the small fictional inner Hebridean island of Garve, and involves parallel stories, three hundred years apart. Henrietta Dalrymple is kidnapped and held on Garve by the fearsome laird, Manus McNeill, while in the present day, Alys returns to the island where she spent childhood holidays, and renews an old friendship. While Henrietta must decide who she can trust, Alys must earn the trust of the man she loves. But for both women, the tug of motherhood will finally influence their decisions.

The Posy Ring set on the same small fictional Hebridean island as the Curiosity Cabinet, is (almost) a sequel to that novel, now published by Dyrock Publishing.

My books, fiction and non-fiction, are available in paperback and as eBooks on Amazon.

I’ve held Creative Writing fellowships and residencies and spent four years as Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow at the University of the West of Scotland. I enjoy giving readings and talks about all aspects of my work and love chatting to my readers so please don't be shy about contacting me.

I also collect and deal in antiques, mainly textiles, in my spare time - quite often they find their way into my fiction.