A poetic reimagining of 6th century Lothian princess Thaney (St Teneu), daughter of Loth of Traprain Law. Written by Rebecca Sharp

MAIDEN MOTHER MAGE

Written and directed by Rebecca Sharp.

Music by Alex South. Artwork by Frances Law.

Performed by Mhairi Watt, Taylor Dyson, Heather Cochrane; and Alex South (music).

Costume by Jessica Brettle. Technical operations by David Venters.

Presented by Haddington’s History Society & Partners.

From Pagan Princess to Patron Saint

The Legend of Thaney, Mother of St Mungo

A poetic reimagining of Thaney, later known as St Teneu / Tenew, or St Enoch. A site-specific performance by actors, with live original score. A recovery of power, identity and voice.

The venue is accessible to wheel-chair users.

Donations payable online or by cash on the door.

Complimentary 'Maiden Mother Mage' herbal tea will be served after the performance to mark the occasion - a blend created specially for the project by Fife-based holistic herbalist Rosemary Rose.

Following performances in 2025 at Culross Abbey in Fife and Glasgow Cathedral, this very special one-off final performance marks a homecoming for Thaney.

Thaney was a 6th century CE Brittonic princess, daughter of Leudonis or King Lot at Traprain Law in the Kingdom of Gododdin (Lothian). She holds many stories, connecting her to pagan and Druidic roots, and to Arthurian legend - but never in her own words. Cherished by many, today she is venerated in the Christian faith as Saint Teneu or Thaney, Protector of the Abused; and as St Enoch of Glasgow, mother of St Mungo.

According to legend, at the age of seventeen Thaney was raped, and discovering she was pregnant was thrown from Traprain Law as punishment, either by her father or upon his orders. She survived the fall to be punished a second time (some say was accused of witchcraft), placed in an oarless boat and set into the Firth of Forth at Aberlady Bay. She again survived to wash ashore at Culross in Fife, where she was taken in by St Serf, founder of an early church (later the site of Culross Abbey). There she had her son, Kentigern / Mungo, who would go on to found the city of Glasgow.

There have been varying claims to her story over the centuries: Thaney enters myth, both human being and story-bearer. Fact grows indiscernible from fiction, and Thaney holds the space between.

​We wonder what role she would choose for herself now, as she rises during times of violence and abuses of power.

We meet her here in triple form: as MAIDEN (exiled girl of seventeen), MOTHER (of Mungo and other creations), and MAGE (shaman, abbess, Cailleach).

Giving voice to the outcast and voiceless, Thaney shows us how we might repair divisions that were cast upon us all so long ago.

Description supplied by the event organiser.