| |
Past
Tours listings/reviews index.| Current
Tours listings/reviews index.|
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 2004 by companies based in Scotland |
It's
A Wonderful Life - Nonsenseroom Productions - A new adaptation of
the very much loved Christmas Frank Capra classic.
Review - Clear
sharp acting & simplicity wins.
Toured in Scotland in December 2004.
Nutcracker - Scottish Ballet - Artistic Director Ashley Page goes back
to the Hoffman tale in this new version of the Christmas treat raptureousl
recieved in 2003, designs by Antony McDonald and lighting by Peter Mumford.
Review - Imaginative,
haunting and visually exciting.
Toured in Scotland and Ireland in Dec 2004 to Feb 2005.
The Emperors New Kilt - Wee Stories - On the island of Kiltie the
Emperor, or Laird as it's in Scotland, wants a new kilt for his birthday
even though he's got on for every day of the year already. Age 5+.
Review - Wishing
you could press rewind.
Toured in Scotland in December.
Riddance - SpartaKi - revival of Linda McLean's award-winning play
by a new company, featuring a directorial debut by actor Neil McKinven,
who played Frank in the original production. Two men and one women survived
growing up in a Glasgow tenement. Years later, they come together again.
Review - Emotive
if slightly careless revival
Toured Scotland Nov and Dec 2004.
Karl Marx's Beard - Theatre Objektiv - Boris and Karloff tend the
collective farm of Red History. A search for love and understanding amongst
exile and disillusionment. A new play by Raymond Raszkowski Ross. World
Premiere.
Review - Psychological
not political dismemberment.
Toured Edinburgh & Glasgow in November 2004.
A Clean Sweep - Plutot la Vie - Ian Cameron and Tim Licata explore
the world of brushes to create a performance filled with clowning, dance
and visual storytelling for children and adults alike.
Review - Gentle
wordless humour.
Toured Scotland Nov - Dec 2004.
Cut To The Chase - Complete - A teenage opera diva encounters the
pop world and other peoples' ambitions for her in this play by Christopher
Deans based on Beaumarchais's The Barber of Seville. Trav 1.
Review - Knows
where it's going.
Toured Southern and Central Scotland Oct - Nov 2004.
Lost Ones - Vanishing Point - World Premiere. In a surreal exploration
of childhood, why does ficition so often place children in grotesque situations
of peril?
Review - Past
comes unsettlingly to the surface.
Toured Scotland and Luton Oct - Nov 2004.
Good Things - Borderline Theatre - A new farce by Liz Lochhead
set in a Charity shop where a woman of a certain age finds her feet after
being traded in for a new model. Directed by Maureen Beattie.
Review - Comic,
moving - throughout entertaining.
Toured Sept to Dec 2004 in Scotland.
Jekyll and Hyde - Mull Theatre & Scottish Touring Theatre Consortium
- Stevenson's chilling tale about a man with two personalities, one
safe the other very dangereous from a company who make quality theatre
on a beautiful island.
Review - Dramatises
Scottish subconscious.
Toured all round Scotland Sept - Dec 2004.
Women On The Verge Of A T- Junction - Misfits Theatre - Three women,
three generations, three agendas, one lapse of concentration, all it takes
to reduce a grown AA man to tears! in a comedy drama from The MsFits.
Review - Bit
cosy but sympathetic & timed to perfection.
Toured in Scotland and Uk throughout 2003 & 4.
It Seems Like Yesterday - Citadel Arts Group - Reminscence-into-drama
project funded by SAC and Edinburgh District Council. Stain Remover by
Anne Stenhouse, On With The Dance by Millie Gray and The Father of The
Man by San Cassimally.
Review - Yes
it does but is it enough?
Toured in Edinburgh in Nov and Dec 2004.
Triple Bill - Freshmess - Hip hop style blend with contemporary dance
in Paul Joseph's Urbanik Sessions vol 1 to music by him and Graeme Clark,
Christine Devaney's Compound to music by DJ Dolphin Boy and Allan Irvine's
Moonwalk On A Rainbow to music by Quee MacArthur.
Review - Innovative
ideas show potential.
13 Oct - 3 Nov 2004 in Scptlad And Derby England.
Tam O'Shanter - Wee Stories - Andy Cannon retells with spirt and
comic flair Robert Burns' poem about a man who encounters strange sights
on his way home from the pub. For age 6 up to Grannies.
Review - Into
the Halloween spirit.
2 - 29 Oct in Scotland and Barbican London England.
Huff Puff And Away - Tabula Rasa Dance Company - Dances of the wind and
stories in an imaginative and playful show for 3 - 6 year olds.
Review - Some
captivating sequences.
Tour begins
9 Oct - 6 Nov 2004 in Scotland and Derby and London.
Misery - Rapture Theatre - Scottish premiere of this shock horror
comedy based on Stephen King's book. A successful novelist is rescued
by his self declared number one fan and finds himself taken prisoner.
Review - Edge
of seat + wit and grotesque comedy.
3 Oct - 6 Nov in Scotland.
Autumn Tour - Scottish Ballet - Three of the world's best choreographers,
Hans van Manen's Twilight and 2 Pieces for Het, William Forsythe reworked
for Scottish balet Artifact Suite and Scottish Ballet's Artistic Director
Ashely Page new work to music by Brian Eno, J Peter Schwaim and John Adams
(Shaker Loops).
Review - Fresh,
Energetic and fun.
15 Sept – 16 Oct in Scotland.
Autumn 2004 Programme - Scottish Dance Theatre - A double bill
of new work, Forty Minutes from their Artistic Director Janet Smith and
Luxuria by Liv Lorent.
Review - Continues
to break down barriers.
2 Sept - 23 Oct 2004 in Scotland and Leeds England.
Into The Dark - Visible Fictions presented by The Scottish Touring
Consortium - A group of teenager's venture into the woods where an
odd woman lives and try to find out the truth about why she is there.
Review - Shivers
down spine, but for wrong reasons.
Tour begins.
23 Sep - 21 Oct 2004 in Scotland.
Bright Colours Only - Pauline Goldsmith -
Come to a wake in Pauline Goldsmith's extraordinary solo performance which
has wons several awards. Touring to England Ireland and Estonia during
10 March to 26 June.
Review - Embracing,
moving and warming.
Toured 10 March - 26 June 2004 in Ireland and England.
The Ensemble Group - World Premiere performances of choreography by Cathy
Marston, Christopher Hampton and Toni Mira and reprising Norman Douglas'
Cries and Whispers.
Review - Diversity
of dance movement ... pure artistic skill.
11 - 26 June 2004 in Scotland.
Peer Gynt - Benchtours -A specially commissioned adaptation by
John Harvey of Ibsen's Peer Gynt tells the story of a fantasist and dreamer,
a drunkard, a womaniser. By turns comical, surreal and passionate. Performed
by an eight strong professional company, plus chorus from drama colleges
and the community, and features original live music from Steve Kettley
(Salsa Celtica), with design by Karen Tennent.
Review - Sucessful
fusion.
27 May - 26 June 2004 in Scotland.
Ziata's Diary - Communicado - Based on the diary of Zlata Filipovic.
adapted and directed by Gerry Mulgrew. A vivid autobiographical account
of an innocent child caught up in the horrors of the Bosnian War.
Review - Long
but company have soul.
20 May - 19 Jun 2004 in Scotland.
The Minatour - Scottish Opera - An opera for Children by composer Julian
Evans and Librettist Allan Dunn. With film as well as live performance
a boy faces a mythical beast with only a thread to see him back to safety.
Review - Exciting
story, unexciting opera.
Tour begins
14 May - 19 June 2004 in Scoland.
Cyrano - Catherine Wheels Theatre Company assoc with Brunton Theatre
(Scotland) - Cyrano, has it all including a too large nose, Christian
has nothing but looks. They both want to attract Roaxanne but who will
win? A swash buckling comedy from the multi-award winning company that
brought The Story of the Little Gentleman in 2003 and Lifeboat in 2002.
75mins/Age 10+.
Review - Humourous
and sad about emotions.
6 May -19 June 2004 in Scotland.
The Memory of Water - Stellar Quines in co-production with the
Byre Theatre, St. Andrews, and the Tron Theatre, Glasgow - Scottish premiere
of The Memory of Water by Shelagh Stephenson, Winner of the 2000 Laurence
Olivier Award for Best Comedy, directed by Muriel Romanes. Three sisters
on the eve of their mother's funeral find laughter and tears.
Review - Pain
and joy of being related.
Tour begins
15 April - 26 June 2004 in Scotland. Was then revived and toured
to Kilkenny Festival in August 2004.
Kidnapped - Mull Theatre/Perth Theatre Co-production
- Robert Louis Stevenson's adventure story of David Balfour
and Alan Beck set against Scotland after 1745. Adapted for the stage by
Alasdair McCrone and Robert Paterson, with a new musical soundscape created
and played live on stage by John Davidson. Revivial of its 2003 production
with same cast.
Review - Creative
combination kidnaps. Review of 2003 tour.
24 March - 7 August 2004 in Scotland
Proof - Rapture Theatre Company - David Auburn's Scottish Premiere
of the 2001 Tony and Pulitzer winning play about family love and trust
with a fine Scottish cast of Michael MacKenzie, Lorna McDevitt, Andrew
Clark and Lyn McAndrew. Has Catherine inherited her mathematical father's
madness as well as his genius?
Review - High
proof in performances and production.
7 May - 12 June 2004 in Scotland.
Emily's House - Visible Fictions - Gillian's mum and Ben's dad
have just got married, trouble is the children don't like one another
and there's a ghost Emily causing more trouble. A new play by Isobel Wright.
+ 9 years.
Review - Haunts
and consoles.
Tour begins Public performances (there will be perfomances in schools
within a specially brought theatre space.)
29 April - 4 June in Scottish Schools and some theatres.
The People Next Door - Traverse Theatre Company - Henry Adam's play
which has you laughing at our bizarre world and it's sometimes frightening
politics. One of the award winning hits of the 2003 Fringe. Main Theatre.
Review -
9 months later - changes needed.
27 April - 23 May 2004 to Edinburgh Glasgow Coventry, and Bochum
& Dusseldorf in Germany.
The Nest - Traverse Theatre Company - The first play by Edinburgh
playwright Alan Wilkins, about a group of Munro-baggers stranded in a
bothy. Premiering in April before going on tour in the Highlands and Islands.
Trav 2.
Review - Enjoyable
but unchallenging.
Tour begins
20 April - 22 May to Scotland including Highlands and Islands.
Play On! and Saturday Night Divas - Company Cordelia - Play On! looks
at a band of travelling players and the desires that drive them while
Saturday Night Divas women show them selves stronger, funny as they go
out to dance with their partners. All danced to wide mix of music.
Review - Entertains
but doesn't fully grab.
Tour begins.
30 April - 22 May 2004 in Scotland and England.
Two Monologues - Occasional Theatre Company/Mad Cow - Gowan
Calder's two tales of ordinary people with extraordinary lives ... or
is it the other way around? An Audience with the Lizard Lady and Backstage
at the Pussy-Kat Klub. Trav 2.
Review - Perfectly
timed.
12 March - 15 May in Scotland.
A Doll's House - A Theatre Babel production
- Ibsen's groundbreaking work remains brilliantly insightful, breaking
apart contemporary ideas about happiness and marriage. The first drama
of its kind, A Doll's House is a raw and poetic exploration of the lies
people tell themselves - and what happens when those lies are exposed.
Review - Still
power in the play, production and questions.
18 March - 1 May 2004 in Scotland England & Taiwan.
Sauchiehail Street - Vanishing Point -
The busiest street in Glasgow. In a sprawling top floor office,
Dorothy Darvel, actors agent extraordinaire, is one of the busiest women
in the street. lain Heggie's new play produced by one of Scotland young
companies directed by Matthew Lenton and designed by Kai Fischer.
Review - Some
interesting shrapnel.
12 March - 3 April in Scotland.
Reason To Be Cheerful - 7:84 Theatre Company
- Based on the memoir of political comedian Mark Steele and
given a Scottish twist by writer Martin McCardie, featuring a soundtrack
from past 30 years.
Review - More
comedy than drama.
19 Feb - 10 April 2004 in Scotland.
Echoes - X Factor Dance Company - A new production from the enlarged company
including David Highes (male lead in Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker).
Review - Satisfying
mixter-maxter.
14 Feb - 27 March 2004 in Scotland.
Scottish Dance Theatre - This acclaimed award winning company return with
a repetoire of new work by international choreographers.
Review - Movements
& music delight.
31 Jan - 22 May in Scotland and to Guernsey, Jersey and London.
The Matchmaker - City Theatre Dublin - Jimmy Chisholm and Una Mclean
star in John B Keane's play where Kerry Matchmaker makes matches for the
lonely folk in remote Ireland.
Review - Intimate
character portraits become dramatic masterpieces.
Tour begins
6 April - 29 May 2004 in Scotland.
The Purple Potting Shed - Topiary Dance - A magical adventure for children
aged 4-7 years and their families. The Purple Potting Shed uses dance
and live jazz music to explore the colourful and flamboyant creatures
of the garden and the environment in which they live. Trav 1.
3 Apr at 1.30pm + 4.30pm.
Review - Very
pleasant show doesn't explore possibilites.
To schools in England and Scotland from 8 March - 12 May 2004 only 2 public
performances.
Mixed Programme - Scottish Ballet - Modern Ballet Classics including Balanchine
and Ashley Page, Balanchine's The Four Temperaments and at some performances
Petronio's MiddleSexGorge. Please note MiddleSexGorge features exposed
male buttocks.
Review - Fabulous
celebration of 55 years of modern dance.
Tour begins .
31 March - 1 May 2004 in Scotland.
Arthur - Wee Stories - A wonderful storytelling dramatisation of
the Legends of the boy and his sword and the man, told with flair, music
and cereal packets! Age 7+.
Review - Wee
theatre company does ggggreat job.
29 Feb - 27 March. 2004 England & Scotland.
Off Kilter - Dance Base - A Programme drawn from Scottish companies including
Frank McConnell's Innit Innat by Freshmess, + commissions by Janet Smith
and Steinvor Palsson and live music.
Review - Good
night's entertainment but....
Toured in Scotland 27 March - 2 April 2004.
Family Snapshot - Amira Theatre Company - A comedy about that very
Scottish celebration Hogmanay, what do you do when your family drives
you mad?
17 - 25 March toured to East Kilbride and Glasgow.
The Bear & The Proposal - Benchtours -
Two hilarious one-act jokes by Anton Chekhov. Love, lust, bankruptcy and
brittle furniture hilariously served up in a chaotic night of passion,
anger and ridiculousness.
Review of the
same production when it toured in 2002.
9 - 18 March in Scotland.
Tunnel Visions - Theatre Cryptic -
Inspired by two brothers who withdrew from the world in 1940s New York
where one brother tended the other barricaded them in with junk. Live
Music, visuals and more in this music theatre. Composed by Anthea Haddow,
with visuals by Axel Morgenthaler of Photonicdreams, Montreal. Directed
by Cathie Boyd, with a Libretto by Adrian Osmond.
Review - Inventive,
imaginative peice.
9 - 26 March in Scotland.
The Bright Eyed Mariner - Dance to Dance Theatre Tabula Rasa in co-production
with Brunton Theatre - A visual dance theatre performance based on Coleridge's
Rime of the Ancient Mariner performed by some of Scotland's finest dancers,
narrated by Peter Grimes and with live music composed by Tommy Fowler.
Review - Much
afloat tho' musicians try drowning it.
28 Feb - 19 March in Scotland.
Seven Ages - Seachd Linntean - Dogstar - Hamish MacDonald's dramatic
fusion of story, music and story. Two actors travel through five centuries,
moving in seven acts from cradle to grave with musicians - Johnnie Hardie
and Mary MacMaster.
Review - Variable
but some bold confident scenes.
19 Feb - 13 March in Scotland.
Dead Funny - Borderline Theatre - In Terry Johnson's play two couples
and a neighbour meet to raise a glass to the memory of Benny Hill and
reveal more than they expect. Warning! This play contains nudity, strong
language and is very funny.
Review - Effortless
laughter from not so easy things.
6 Feb - 13 March in Scotland.
Romeo And Juliet - Prime Productions - Shakespeare tragedy where
young love tangles with old feuds. Romeo and Juliet weaves sword fights
and drama with the theatre's greatest love scenes and finest poetry.
Review - Make
us care about their fate.
30 Jan - 27 March in Scotland.
Twelfth Night - Dundee Rep -John Bett, Tom McGovern, and the
strong acting company of Dundee Rep tours in the Rep's striking and on
the button production of Shakespeare's play where yellow stockings, shipwrecked
twins and letters feature along with Aguecheek and Belch.
Review - Fresh
and enthralling life.
Toured Jan & Feb 2004
The Slab Boys Trilogy - Traverse Theatre Company
- John Byrne's trio of plays about life in Paisley spanning
the 1950s to 1970s. The Slab Boys with Una Mclean and Cuttin' The Rug
with Una Mclean & Dawn Steele, all plays have a wealth of Scottish
acting talent, with all three are done on the Saturday at each venue.
Reviews of The Slab Boys plays - Trilogy
peaks in the middle.
3 - 7 Feb at Glasgow King's Theatre 0141 240 1111.
10 - 14 Feb at Eden Court Inverness 01463 234234.
17 - 21 Feb at Kirkcaldy Adam Smith Theatre 01592 412929.
Nutcracker - Scottish Ballet - A completely
new production created by their new artistic director Ashley Page with
designs by Antony McDonald and Lighting by Peter Mumford. Page goes back
to Hoffman's orginal story and brings its darker edge to this Christmas
favourite.
Review - Marvellous
Christmas present, reinvigorated Scottish Ballet.
Toured Dec 2003 - Feb 2004.
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 isthelma@edinburghguide.com
|
|
