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| Edinburgh : A&E : Theatre : Reviews |
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Theatre listings > The Lion Of Kabul. - Tour & World Premiere. Text - Nicola McCartney. Director & Designer - Karen Tennent. Film and Animation - D Fie Foe. Film Artwork -Stephen Charles. Composer - Kieran Cheng. Assistant Director - Jo Timmins. Movement Coach - Maria Öller. Costume Design - Alison Brown. Scenic Artist - Caroline Fearon. Company - Catherine Wheels Theatre Company Company Website. Cast - here . 2006 Tour Dates and Times - here . Seen to review at Musselburgh The Brunton Theatre on 23 September 2006. Run Time - 1 hours 15 mins no Interval. Reviewer - Thelma Good. Theatrically transporting us. We are led in, seated in a Yurt and allowed to settle into an audience. The wooden framework, the natural coloured lowered screen walls, and the large packing case with a label saying Kabul Zoo all let us know we're going somewhere special. Gill Robertson and Kieran Cheug open the case, inside they find a skull cap and a long tail, theatrically transporting us into the tale of the lion and his life, a lion who actually existed. With his surroundings projected on the walls of the yurt we go from the zoo he stayed in with his mother on a huge journey to Kabul. There with animations we meet the animals and birds Marjan the lion cub grows up among. With hair that stands out Robertson suggests the growing feline swishing his powerful tail and sniffing with interest the children surrounding him. The elephant, monkeys, hyenas, bear and peacock are not the only beings in Marjan's world, there's Cheung's Akbhar his keeper, a devout Muslim who builds up a close relationship with the playful creature, and the crowds who come to be entertained. There's also Akbhar's little daughter and her gorgeous laugh. Outside the zoo above Kabul in the mountains there are at first distant sounds, the war animal is growing. Through Nicola McCartney's imaginative script and the right on the spot playing by Cheung and Robertson the audience are drawn in skillfully as Marjan's life sees him experience not only the war and the Taliban rule but their defeat. It's a study of how a being survives tough and difficult times. Designed for children over eight, an age when they become very curious about other people and cultures, this superbly produced Catherine Wheels show treats them to a story which does not flinch when life gets challenging. ©Thelma Good 23 September 2006 - Published on EdinburghGuide.com Cast - Marjan - Gill Robertson and Akbhar - Kieran Cheung. Musican - Kieran Cheung. 2006 Tour Details of Catherine Wheels' production of The Lion Of Kabul . Tour begins 20– 23 Sept Musselburgh Brunton Theatre 0131 665 2240. 26 - 27 Sept Paisley Arts Centre 0141 887 1007. 3 - 4 Oct Kilmarnock The Palace Complex 01563 554900. 6 – 7 Oct Peebles Eastgate Arts Centre 01721 725 777. 10 Oct Stirling macrobert 01786 466 666. 12 – 13 Oct Dunfermline Carnegie Halls 01383 314000. 17 Oct Hamilton The Town House 01698 452 299. 19 Oct Falkirk Town Hall 01324 506850. 21 Oct Bathgate Regal 01506 433 634. 25 & 26 Oct Cumbernauld Theatre 01236 732887. 31 Oct The Bridge, Easterhouse. 27 – 28 October Glasgow Inspiration Festival Tramway 0845 330 3501. 2 – 4 Nov North Edinburgh Arts Centre 0131 315 2151. Tour ends. 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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