Raspberry : A Musical Inspired by the life and times of Ian Dury

Raspberry: A Musical

Inspired by the life and times of Ian Dury

Raspberry, written by award winning playwright Garry Robson, opens at the Tron Theatre Glasgow on Wednesday 31 March at 7.30pm and plays until Saturday 3 April. The production then moves to the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh and Dundee Rep before setting off on a major tour of England from Liverpool to Taunton to Croydon. 

The show is directed by Gordon Dougall, music and additional lyrics are by Leigh Stirling, with arrangements by Sally Clay. Members of the cast include Garry Robson (Spasticus), Christine Bruno (Rita), Sally Clay (Ray), Jem Dobbs (Dad/Angel), David ‘Stickman’ Higgins (Albert Einstein) and Jamie Duffin (Angel). 

Raspberry is a juicily gothic piece of music theatre, which muses on the idea of perfection and perfectability.  Raspberry was first performed as work in progress as part of Oran Mor’s hugely successful A Play, A Pie and a Pint series in Glasgow by Sounds of Progress in collaboration with Fittings. 

Sounds of Progress working alongside the UK's most prestigious disabled artists, have collaborated to produce some of Scotland's most cutting edge inclusive Music Theatre, committed to training and mentoring talented musicians and the company’s supported bands The Superheroes, 21st Century Band and Blind Gurl and the Crips work continually to showcase the work of disabled artists both nationally and internationally.

Oi! Oi!

In a small wee town where tin was shaped and forged, a blacksmith had a daughter just like him. And just like her Dad, Rita was a bit different.

Now as far as the blacksmith was concerned this was a cosmic joke to far, so he set about changing things. Coz tin was his game, within which he'd achieved a modicum of fame, he tried to bend and shape her like a Uri Geller spoon.

And that's how it would have gone on if Spasticus and Ray and their band of dirty angels hadn't come along and changed just about everything...

Fittings has always had close links with visual artists and for this show Associate Visual Artist Tanya Raabe, who is creating a commission piece for Tate Modern, is collaborating with the company documenting rehearsals and creating an animation which will be touring the UK in the future. Tanya Raabe said “Disability is part of my life's experiences therefore it is my art form. “

 

Set and costume design is by Keith McIntyre and lighting design by Carl Masson and Alun Wright.

 

The production is suitable for audiences aged 14+ and contains some strong language.

 

Raspberry is supported by Arts Council England, Scottish Arts Council, Arts & Business, Glasgow City Council

 

 

 

 

RASPBERRY TOUR SCHEDULE:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Tron Theatre

63 Trongate, Glasgow G1 5HB

Wednesday 31 March – Saturday 3 April 7.30pm

Box Office: 0141 552 4267 online @www.tron.co.uk

Tickets: Wed/Thu £10.50 (£6.50) Fri/Sat £14.50 (£10.50)

 

Traverse Theatre

Cambridge Street, Edinburgh EH1 2ED

Thursday 8 – Saturday 10 April 8pm

Box Office: 0131 228 1404 online www.traverse.co.uk

Tickets: £13/£8/unemployed £5 Fri & Sat £16/£12

Hot Tickets: £8/£5 concession Thu 8 if bought before Thu 1 April. (Subject to availability)

 

Dundee Rep

Tay Square, Dundee DD1 1PB

Tuesday 13 & Wednesday 14 April

Box Office 01382 223530

Book online www.dundeerep.co.uk

Tickets: £14 concessions £10 - £12

 

Guildhall Theatre

Market Place, Derby DE1 3AE

Tuesday 20 April 7.30pm

Box office 01332 255800 online www.derbylive.co.uk

Tickets £13 & concessions £9

 

Square Chapel for the Arts

10 Square Road, Halifax HX1 1QG

Thursday 22 April 8pm

Box Office: 01422 349422 book online: www.squarechapel.co.uk

Tickets £10 & Concessions £8

 

Contact Theatre

Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6JA

Friday 23 & Saturday 24 April 7.30pm

Booking: 0161 274 0600 / www.contact-theatre.org

(BSL and AD performance on Sat 24)

Tickets: £10/6

 

The Brindley

High Street, Runcorn, Cheshire WA7 1BG

Tuesday 27 April 7.30pm

Box Office: 0151 907 8360 online www.thebrindley.org.uk

Tickets: £10/£8

 

The Bluecoat

School Lane, Liverpool L1 3BX

Friday 30 April & Saturday 1 May

Box Office: 0151 702 5324 www.thebluecoat.org.uk

 

Arena Theatre

Wulfuna Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1SE

Thursday 6 May 7.30pm & Friday 7 May 1pm

Box Office: 01902 321321 online www.arenatheatre.info

Tickets £8/£6

 

The Valley Theatre

Childwall Valley Road, Netherley, Liverpool L27 3YA

Saturday 8 May 7.30pm

Box Office: 0151 488 0364

www.valleytheatre.co.uk

 

The Brewhouse Theatre & Arts Centre

Coal Orchard, Taunton TA1 1JL

Thursday 13 May 7.45pm

Box Office: 01823 283244 online www.thebrewhouse.net

Tickets A £12.50 B £10 C £7.50

60+ £1 off / Conc. £2 off / Schools £7.50

Friends 2 for 1

 

Salisbury Arts Centre

Bedwin Street, Salisbury, SP1 3UT

Wednesday 12 May, 8pm

Box Office: 01722 321744

Website: www.salisburyartscentre.co.uk

Tickets: £10, concessions £8

 

Croydon Clocktower

Katharine Street, Croydon CR9 1ET

Friday 14 May 7.30pm

Box Office: 020 8253 1030 online www.croydonclocktower.org.uk