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Theatre listings > Home - Edinburgh - World Premiere. One of ten specially created productions for the opening of the National Theatre of Scotland. Playwrights - Jessie Brown, Euan Crowe), Dionne Devine, Katie Lawson, Amanda Rathney-Quinn, Allana Stanton and Aimee Watson. Director - Anthony Neilson. Creators - Oliver Senton, Anthony Neilson and the children of West Lothian Youth Theatre. Lighting Designer - Elizabeth Powell. Company - National Theatre of Scotland NTS Company Website. Cast - here. Venue & Dates - Queen's Hall, Edinburgh Dates - 25 Feb 2006. Run Time - 30 mins no Interval. Reviewer - Thelma Good. Like a fast forward showing of lost 7:84 show. Written by a group of West Lothian Youth theatre's 9 - 11 year olds we're sat in the Queen's Hall for the Edinburgh version of the National Theatre of Scotland's opening weekend. All based on the theme Home the ten widely different productions are all set outside conventional theatres gave audiences up and down Scotland varying theatrical experiences in a shop window with miniaturised rooms, tower blocks, ferry, secret location, museum, visitor centre, warehouse, hall and in Edinburgh a concert hall. The space of the converted church that is the Queen's Hall contains some of the feel of the chamber the NTS really wanted to hold this piece in, Scotland's Parliament. But the acoustics of this second choice building do the actors and the playwrights no favours, you have to listen hard to make sense of much that is said. It's annoying cause the young playwrights reveal a strong surreal streak creating characters and concerns which sometimes reflect current affairs directly, a motion to ban smoking altogether or in a more sideways look when the alien MSP, Daniela Nardini, complains about cartoons that make fun of her people. The MSPs conga in and conga out under the strange head gears - Mr Fish and Chips, Alex Norton, the first minister has both on his head, Mr Dog's Breath, Colin McCreadie, has Floopy canine ears and Dawn Steele as Mrs Bling shows she could be a Cherie with that pale pink wig. The pretty starry cast enter in to the piece with energy and zest but it's not enough to make you feel this freebie show's potential has been fully realised. Sitting amongst the nearly full auditorium it was like a brief fast forward showing of a lost 7:84 show of the late 70s & early 80s. I wish the MSPs had had the guts and foresight to let it be seen and heard in the suitably amplified Parliament it was designed for. After all they are the ones who, by furnishing the money, brought this particular National Theatre to life, one whose aim is to reach Scots and the world beyond. Their first year's programme may well send you one of their productions, the variety on its opening weekend is echoed in the many productions planned. © Thelma Good 24 February 2006 - Published on EdinburghGuide.com Cast - Mr Break Your Bones - Tam Dean Burns, Mrs Fruit Salad - Raquel Cassidy, Granny Chopsticks - Susan Coyle, Granny Crystal - James Cunningham, Kaitlin/Monkey - Shauna MacDonald, Master Dog-Breath - Colin McCreadie, Mr Marshmallow - Joe McFadden, Blobb Gobb - Daniela Nardini, First Monister of Scotland, Mrs Bling - Dawn Steele and Mr Fatty Batty - Arthur Wilson. Also Festuring Barbara Bryan, Lisa Kristine Davidson, Dougal Lee, Jennifer Lowrie, Kath Mansfield, Jack Martin, Victoria Macleod, Marcus Macleod, Trish Mullin, Rebecca Sloyan, Kirsten Hazel Smith, Steve Strachan, Jim Webster-Stewart, Alex Westwood, Gordon Brandie, Sean Callander, Stuart Raiker, Scott Sutherland and Douglas Walker. Theatre Editor, Thelma Good's e-mail is thelma@edinburghguide.com 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. |
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