The play tells the compelling story of an Italian immigrant family’s often challenging experiences in Scotland before, during and after the Second World War. It explores prejudice, love and family loyalty with humour and warmth, centred on the Pedreschi family and their café/ginger store.

Rosinella and Massimo become guardians to their niece, Lucia, after her mother dies in Italy. As Lucia grows up, a friendship grows between her and a local Scot, Hughie. When Italy declares war with Britain, the Pedreschis’ shop is attacked and Massimo is arrested as an enemy alien. After the war, Lucia is called back to Italy to live with her father. To save Lucia from an arranged marriage, Rosinella takes Hughie to Italy and helps them elope together.

Between Acts 1 & 2 there is a reading of Palma McKeown’s poem, “How to be Scots-Italian” – first published in Talking About Lobsters: New Writing Scotland 34 (ASLS, 2016).

Click here to watch Ian Brown’s talk on Tally’s Blood, plus other videos from the 2013 Schools Conference, and here for the National 5 Teaching Note on Tally’s Blood.