The plays receive their world premiere at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, from 6-15 November 2008. Two exciting new Scottish authors writing about the darker side of Scottish families. Produced as a programme text with the National Theatre of Scotland and the Traverse Theatre it will receive promotion alongside their production of the plays. 'The Dogstone paints a vivid portrait of Oban life and a poignant picture of a man's decline' Guardian 'A bleak story of a homeless young man seeking help from his brother, who signs him up for an armed robbery and rapes his girlfriend ... Duffy's chillingly credible vision of a soulless manipulator promises powerful things to come' Guardian

Presented by the National Theatre of Scotland and the Traverse Theatre as a double-bill as part of their Debuts season, these two shorts plays take an unflinching look at the darker side of Scottish families. In Kenny Lindsay's The Dogstone, a father and son aren't seeing eye to eye in Oban. Teenager Lorn is trying to get his life started as his Dad is throwing his away with last night's empties. He's a 'heroic drinker' who loves to tell Lorn the local legends and stories of warriors, kings and the fabled Dogstone. Just how far can his fantasies take him? Andy Duffy's Nasty, Brutish and Short finds two brothers, Jim and Luke, holed up in a Glasgow flat. No job, no money and it looks like the only things on offer are all bad. As the options start to run out, Jim takes what isn't his and sets the two brothers on a collision course ...