"Trust the story... the story is the only thing we can really truly know."

Join us for a very special talk show - an online discussion inspired by the acclaimed novel And The Land Lay Still.

Winner of the Saltire society Scottish Book of the Year 2010, And The Land Lay Still was heralded by the Sunday Times on publication as "Powerful and moving. A brilliant and multifaceted saga of Scottish life in the second half of the twentieth century"

It is a panoramic exploration of late 20th Century Scotland through the eyes of James Robertson’s characters; natives, immigrants, journalists and politicians, dropouts and spooks making their way in a changing country.

Ten years on from publication, we bring together the author James Robertson and playwright Peter Arnott who is developing a stage adaptation of the novel. They will be joined by theatre critic and Scotsman political columnist, Joyce MacMillan and National Theatre of Scotland Dramaturg, Rosie Kellagher to discuss the living memory of Scotland explored in James’ novel, the changes in the decade since its publication and to look to Scotland's future and the role art and imagination plays in shaping our Nation’s Story.

The talk will be chaired by Lyceum Artistic Director David Greig with Songs from Mairi Campbell, one of Scotland’s finest folk musicians and songwriters and dramatic extracts of Peter Arnott's stage adaptation in development, from a recent reading commissioned by the National Theatre of Scotland.

Campaigner and activist Amal Azzudin is no longer able to take part in this event.

Presented by The Royal Lyceum Theatre Company and the National Theatre of Scotland.

An online discussion inspired by the novel And The Land Lay Still by James Robertson with dramatic extracts from a reading of Peter Arnott's stage adaptation in development presented by the National Theatre of Scotland.

Additional cast includes Nesha Caplan, Richard Conlon, Lesley Hart and Garry Robson.