Isabelle Finds Her Voice in Powerful Doric Performance
Lucy Beth’s compelling spoken-word reimagining of a traditional ballad told through humour and resilience.
I went along to see Lucy Beth’s Ma Name Is Isabelle at Aberdeen Arts Centre on Thursday night. I’d heard great things about the Inverurie performer, but this was the first time I’d caught her live. In this show, she brings a fresh take on the well-known bothy ballad Bogie’s Bonnie Belle, this time told from Isabelle’s perspective rather than Bogie’s.
As a theatre maker, Lucy Beth has gained recognition for preserving and celebrating the Doric language. This background shapes this powerful piece. She portrays Isabelle’s experiences with sincerity and compassion, exploring the harsh realities of becoming pregnant against her will, facing judgment, and losing her child, all choices made by the men in her life. Yet, despite the difficult subject matter, Lucy skilfully integrates warmth and humour, allowing Isabelle to reclaim power over her own story.
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Join Open Road for a raft of Festival of the Sea events, including The Sea Salt Shore, an evening of sea songs, shanties and storytelling from Joss Camerin, steeped in coastal tradition.
There’s also plenty for families, including a rockpooling morning at Aberdeen beach with the Countryside Ranger and magical maritime tales from storyteller Andy Cannon.
Bringing Isabelle to life
Lucy’s wonderfully expressive performance goes beyond words. Her movement and facial gestures make Isabelle feel real and familiar, like she’s a family member or neighbour. This natural and engaging portrayal gives weight to Isabelle’s choices and circumstances.
Lucy Beth’s use of humour underscores Isabelle’s resilience, allowing us to feel her defiance without softening the impact of what she’s been through. Stripping it of sentimentality, the story feels grounded, immediate, and recognisable. I also think that the use of Doric deepens the sense of place and personal truth.
Exploring silenced perspectives
By giving Isabelle her voice, Lucy Beth is challenging us to reconsider familiar stories and the perspectives that may have been overlooked or silenced. In this fantastic retelling, Isabelle’s strength and identity stay right at the heart.
The intimate setting at Aberdeen Arts Centre’s Café Bar enhanced this closeness. Lucy smoothly shifted between moments of love, anger, and humour without ever losing rhythm. The audience laughed warmly, listened attentively, and rewarded the performance with a well-deserved standing ovation.
You can catch Lucy Beth performing Ma Name Is Isabelle at the Edinburgh Fringe this August. If you’re in that neck of the woods, it’s well worth catching.
