This month's Listings.| Theatre home page. |
Although every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information presented in these pages, no responsibility can be accepted for any errors or omissions.
To contact Theatre Editor, Thelma Good thelma@edinburghguide.com
| Reviews by Edinburghguide of productions toured in 2003 by companies based in Scotland |
Each Peach Pear Plum - The Puppet Lab - Adapted from the Alberg's superb story. Come and play I spy. 3+.
Review - A subtle entertainment.
Toured Sep - Dec 2003.
Charles Dickens: The Haunted Man - Pitlochry Theatre Production - John Clifford's play directed by Iain Grieve gives Jimmy Chisholm a one man tour de force which audiences treasure in a touring production.
Review - Complex, entertaining, and resonant.
Tour begins
After being performed in Rep in the Pitlochry Festival Summer Seasons 2002 & 3.
Toured Oct - Nov in Scotland and England (will be touring again in 2004).
Scottish Dance Theatre - Autumn Tour of Scotland's principal contemporary dance company with a repertoire of acclaimed, entertaining dance theatre from award winning international choreographers.
Review - For now movement subsides niggles.
Toured Oct - Nov in Scotland England Wales and Greece.
Happy Medium - Byre Productions in Assoc with BHj Ltd.- The Byre debut of actress and comedienne in this wickedly funny Glaswegian comedy she wrote with John Bett. Tours on throughout Scotland after.
Review - Some tricks up its drawers.
Toured August - Nov in Scotland.
Gilt - 7:84 Theatre Company - Stephen Greenhorn, Rona Munro and Isabel Wright One play written by three of Scotland's best writers, seven characters' worlds thread together to create a modern mosaic about money and love. Directed by Zinnie Harris.
Review - 7 characters lost by too many authors.
Toured in Scotland & England in Oct/Nov.
Spend a Penny - Shona Reppe Puppets - In a world of knitting peek through and see Herring and Purl. Age 4+ 50 mins.
Review - Bland cuteness, where is soul?
Toured in Scotland in Oct/Nov.
Scottish Ballet - A programme of 20th century modern classics Dangerous Laisons - Richard Aston, Middlesex Gorge - Stephen Petronio, White Man Sleeps Sioban Davies and Cheating, Lying, Stealing. The first programme with the new artistic director Ashley Page as they take new directions.
Review - Response and evolve.
Toured in UK and Greece in Sept/Oct.
Big Country - Lyceum Youth Theatre - In a small Scottish town a group of friends gather. A play from Tim Primrose a young writer who creates a recognisable, comic and moving world. From a youth theatre who produce highly professional productions.
Review of 2002 LYT production of Big Country at Traverse.
Toured in Scotland in Oct.
The Birthday Party - TAG Theatre Company - Directed by Guy Hollands, Pinter's classic play is a startling combination of hilarity and horror. Designed by Neil Warmington.
Review - Gradually unravelling but recognisable world.
Toured in Scotland in Sept/Nov.
Molly Whuppie - Wee Stories - Molly play by the sea but one day it freezes and Molly has to go on a journey. 3+ years.
Review of 2002 tour.
Tour in Scotland and UK Sept - Nov.
Frankie and Johnny in the Claire De Lune - Rapture Theatre -Terrence McNally's tender and warm love story about two lonely people who find love and life against the Big Apple. Find out how a short order cook and a waitress find that they have more in common than they realise. NB- comedy about adult love and relationship, not suitable for children or easily offended.
Review - Keeps you hoping.
Toured in Scotand in Sept - Nov.
Arthur The story of The King - Wee Stories in assoc with The Scottish Touring Consortium - The epic tale of a sword in a stone, knights, round tales, Camelot and Avalon in a production from one of Scotland's most established theatre companies.
Review - Wee theatre company does ggggreat job.
Toured in Scotland in Sept/Oct.
The Chrysalids - Complete - David Harrower's adaptations of the John Wyndham novel. In future world where mutation is rife a teenager hides a dangereous secret but he discovers he is not the only one.
Review - Not ultimately a beneficial mutation.
Toured in Scotland in Sept/Oct.
The Irish Giant - Birds of Paradise Theatre Company - Scottish Premiere. Written and Directed by Garry Robson. Longshanks, Runt, Wheeler and Deafgurl break into the Hunterian Museum to reclaim the skeleton of Charlie Byrne - the Pop Idol of the 18th Century Freak World. A darkly comic and disturbing production by Glasgow's disabled people's theatre company. (All performances incorporate signing)
Review - Theatre to open you up.
Toured in Scotland Sept/Oct.
Vis a Vis/Face to Face - Tabula Rasa Dance - An intimate performance of three modern dance solos created for acclaimed dancer Clare Pencak. Tathaich, A Long and Winding Road, Feuille D'Automne performed to Scottish traditional music, Ligeti and Beethoven.
Toured in Scotland and England in Sept/Oct.
Kidnapped - Perth Theatre co-production with Mull Theatre- Robert Louis Stevenson - An exciting new adaptation of one of the all time great adventure stories of kidnap, murder, treachery and mutiny on the high seas. A tale full of wonderful characters, live music and a newly commissioned soundscape. £9.50/£6.
Review - Kidnapped by creative combination.
Toured in Scotland in Sept - Nov.
Blind_sight - Untitled Projects Co-produced with Tramway and Contact, Manchester - Herve Guibert's explicit cult novel Blindsight is brought to life by Stewart Laing using a combination of digitally controlled visuals and sound in performance of extreme emotions and actions. Within the confines of the Blind Institute, newlyweds Josette and Robert sleep soundly. Suitable for age 16+ due to the sexually explicit nature of the production.
Review - Blind to the possibilities.
Tour in Scotland & England Oct/Nov.
Into The Fade - Second Unit (West Lothian Youth Theatre) - Tim Primrose's new play. Paranoia, anxiety, delusion and the use of flashback and voice-over techniques provide the backdrop for this multimedia theatre 'noir' about people's obsessions and the blur of reality and fantasy.
Review - secondUnit's actors are not second rate.
Toured in Scotland Oct/Nov.
Playwright Live - Crichton Playwrights - Staged readings of new work for the theatre in the form of short plays and monologues. Workshopped & directed by Cally Phillips and performed by RSAMD students. Part of Gaelforce 2003, region wide arts festival in Dumfries and Galloway.
Review - Wide ranging and challenging weekend.
Toured in Dumfries & Gallow Sept 2003.
Purple - Jon Fosse play comissioned for the prestigious International Connections Festival in its Scottish premiere production by Lyceum Youth Theatre, directed by Colin Bradie.
Review - Painful edge of intense, uncomfortable silence.
Went to Norway, London and the Edinburgh Fringe in 2003.
Outlying Islands - Traverse Theatre Company. At the brink of war two ornithologists go to the edge of Scotland and find their own precipices. Acclaimed at Edinburgh Fringe 2002. Written by David Greig Directed by Philip Howard. With a (new) touring set and the original cast.
Review - Fast moving multilayered drama.
Toured April - July 2003 in Scotland, England and Canada.Apr in Canada.
Boston Marriage - Rapture Theatre present the Scottish Premiere of this David Mamet play set in 1900's Boston where two scheming ladies of fashion encounter a large emerald and lovers. Witty and satirical play from a theatre company of interest.
Review - All is witty and fast moving.
Toured in Scotland May/June 2003.
Alice - benchtours and Théâtre Sans Frontières.
Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass in a new adaptation where two acclaimed combine their unmistakable brands of visual and physical theatre. For adults of all ages - and children (7+)
Review - Some delight through a mis-angled mirror.
Toured in Scotland April - June 2003
Medsmama - The Elbow Room Dance Theatre. Devised by Ani Tchakmakdjian and featuring Shakeh Avenssian with dance and video protrays the relationship of a girl and her Armenian Grandmother uniting passion and colour of ancient Eastern European culture and British Contemporary dance. Develop with support of Lemon Tree Aberdeen.
Review - Layers of meaning and poignancy.
Toured Scotland May/June 2003.
The Play O' The Wather - Nutshell Theatre Company revive their very vibrant premiere production of Edwin Stiven lively version of John Heyward's 400 year old play where Jupiter sends Merry Courant to try and sort out what weather we want, with music and one shiny woman weather presenter.
Reviews- Fringe 2002 and revival.
6 - 14 June 2003.
Factory Girls - 7:84 Theatre Company Scotland. Revival of their successful sell out production of Frank McGuinness's play directed by Guy Hollands.
Review - When the little gals stand up.
22 May - 6 June 2003
THE STORY OF THE LITTLE GENTLEMAN - Catherine Wheels Theatre Company (Scotland) In association with Brunton Theatre By Lars-Erik Brossner and Tomas von Brömssen. Based on the book by Barbro Lindgren. Just as the little gentleman thinks his heart may break of loneliness, he finds a wonderful friend who changes his life forever. From winner of Winner of the 2002 Barclays Theatre Award for the best new show for children and young people. 50 minutes/ Age 4 to 8.
Review - Actively enjoying all the fun.
10 May - 14 June 2003 in Scotland and London.
Tam O'Shanter and Other Works. - Arches Theatre Company. Director Andy Arnold brings an ensemble of musicians and actors to create this darkly comic and haunting production dramatising Robert Burn's work which will tour Scotland.
Review - Meanders dilute astonishing Troll-clowns.
8 May - 7 June 2003
Mistero Buffo - Borderline Theatre with Dario Fo's marvelous one man play which takes into the greatest story ever told. Directed by Gerard Kelly and starring Andy Gray.
Review - Gray bounds vaudeville-like around the stage.
25 April - 24 May in Scotland.
The Strathspey King - Dogstar Theatre. Based on the life of fiddling hero James Scott Skinner. A one man play about ambition, disaster, Madness and scandal accompanied by music played live by two of Scotland's leading musicians.
Review - Rich theatrical plaid.
15 April - 2 May around Scotland
Stars Beneath The Sea - Vanishing Point. A show about being underwater. It tells the story of the brave and brilliant pioneers of deep sea diving, men and women who pushed their lives, and sometimes the lives of others, to the limit. Combining physical performance, animation, original music and projection promising an exciting and inventively visual show.. Age 8+ 75 minutes Directed by Matthew Lenton.
Review - Awakening our inventive understanding.
7 May - 1 June in Scotland and England.
Romeo & Juliet - Scottish Youth Theatre Productions. William Shakespeare's play Directed by Mary McCluskey SYT Artistic Director. Youth theatre takes on THE play about young love.
Review - Gives us painfully and believably, young love.
Tour begins
9 April - 2 May in Scotland.
Sister Sister - Boilerhouse. An outdoor production on a towering 10 metre-high labyrinth tours Festivals. Two sisters become rivals in the playground. Music, film and aerial performance tell the story from the company who made Running Girl. All performances FREE.
Review - Heart-stopping aerial work.
3 - 11 May in Scotland and England
Quangle Wangle - Wee Stories From one of Scotland's top children's theatre companies a dramatic tour round several of Edward Lear's stories for 3 - 7 year olds.
Review - Exhilarating and delightful.
4 April - 25 May around Scotland.
Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off - Prime Productions revives and tours Liz Lochhead's marvellous play about Mary Queen of Scots, her time and our country. Directed by Benjamin Twist, designed by Niel Warmington, music arranged by Dougal Lee and dance from Norman Douglas.
Review - Up for it style.
13 March - 24 May around Scotland.
Rescuers Speaking - Birds of Paradise (BOP) - taken from the real words of those risked their lives to save the victims of Hitler's persecution. Using dance/movement, performance, text and music directed by Nomad's Mark Westbrook for Birds of Paradise which exists to promote opportunities for performers with a physical disability.
Review - Relevant and impressively fresh in its delivery.
17 - 29 March in Scotland.
Art - Royal Lyceum Company Yasmina Reza's play translated by Christopher Hampton into English. Directed Kenny Ireland with Andy Gray, Forbes Masson and James Macpherson in this play about male friendship, art and who we are.
Review - Little statements take on big meanings.
14 Feb - 29 March in Scotland
Word for Word - Magnetic North Nicholas Bone, Marisa Zanotti, Mark Leese, and writer Linda McLean collaboration about identity, myth and videotape. An old woman last native speaker of an ancient language and a young war cameraman, meet to record her stories before she dies.
Review - In need of a dramatic compass.
14 March - 1 April in Scotland.
Double Top - Rapture Theatre Company A tender and funny story following three women as they try and find solace and meaning in their lives by forming a darts team.
Review - Good night out with a bit to think about.
14 March - 16 April in Scotland.
WIT - Stella Quines - Scottish premiere of play which won 1999 Pulitzer Drama Prize. A renowned professor of English diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer does a stint as a prize patient in an experimental chemotherapy project at a major teaching hospital - reassessing her life and her work with profundity and humour.
Review - Irony & subtle pearls of wisdom beautifully delivered.
Tour begins
11 March - 26 April in Scotland and Berwick upon Tweed.
In Your Dreams - Scottish Dance Company Xfactor runs riot in the imagination delving into the mind of a sleeping person. A fast-shifting and mercurial world where the aural and the visual collide, with unexpected results!
Review - Admire the skill but.
1 March - 12 April 2003 in Scotland.
Innit...Innat - Freshmess. Dance styles with a street edge. The first piece, choreographed by Allan Irvine, uses Hip Hop and bass to explore how we look after ourselves. The second piece choreographed by Frank McConnel is a collaboration with well known Scottish musician Martyn Bennett, looking at the connections between modern street and traditional Scottish culture.
Review - Fizz with their thrill.
Spring tour 2003 in Scotland.
Tally's Blood - Byre Theatre in association with Borderline Theatre. The Byre Theatre, St. Andrews & Borderline Theatre Anne Marie Di Mambro's Scottish-Italian Love Story the lives of an Italian family from the late 30's to early 50's. Close family ties are tested in the face of war, racism, greed and tradition.
Review - Odd production details.
27 Feb - 12 April 2003 Toured in Scotland.
Can't Pay? Won't Pay! - 7:84 Theatre Company. Dario Fo's comedy translated by Robert Walker and directed by Andy Arnold.
Review - Still a powerful political piece.
6 Feb - 22 March 2003 in Scotland.
Mums The Word- Six women, six stories with Barbara Rafferty, Carole Anders, Estrid Barton, Juliet Cadzow, Annie Grace and Sarah Gudgeon. Funny touching look at what we've all made someone go through.
Review - Easily entertaining but ultimately unsatisfying.
21 Jan - 19 April 2003 in England and Scotland,
The Winter's Tale - Dundee Rep Resident Company's production of Shakepeare's play directed by Dominic Hill opens the 21st Fajr International Theatre Festival in Terhran returning to Dundee touring to Inverness and Aberdeen. With most of the 2001 cast.
Review of 2001 cast - Classy production, well cast actors.
Tour begins
21 Jan - 15 Feb 2003 to Iran and in Scotland.
Lament - Suspect Culture Devised by the company with 5 actors. Against live music they try to raise a smile as sorrowful songs echo round the planet.
Review - Stuck in a miasma of their lack of faith.
Jan 2003 Toured in Scotland and then opened the Six Stages Festival in Toronto, one of Canada's key International Theatre Festivals. 28 Jan - Feb 1 in Ontario Canada.
There Was A Man - Mull Theatre Production of Tom Wright's play about Burns Scotland's National Bard with John Langford. revived in 2003 for tour see tours page for details.
Review - Intimate and intense
21 Jan - 1 Feb 2003 toured in Scotland.
Invisible Man - Vanishing Point Two people a violinist and a women meet in A European country but they both fear the knock on the door. Directed by Matthew Lenton.
2002 Review of production which went to Aghja Theatre, Corsica in January 2003.
Future tours listings | present tours listings | This month's Listings by venue | Theatre home page
Although every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information presented in these pages, no responsibility can be accepted for any errors or omissions.
Theatre Editor, Thelma Good's e-mail is>thelma@edinburghguide.com
|
|