Published: June 11th, 2013 What’s on in Edinburgh’s Theatres over the week ahead.
 Sparky! Abbie Stenhouse plays Alex in MGA’s Flashdance. Photo © Alex Robson Compiled by Thom Dibdin
Edinburgh’s theatres are beginning to draw back from the main action, as we approach the annual hiatus before the onslaught of the Fringe.
Indeed, after celebrating its 50th anniversary with a glitzy party on Sunday – when it also hosted the annual Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland – the Traverse has nothing scheduled until its first fringe production opens for preview at the end of July.
Which means that this week is mostly either about the many small – but exciting – events of the Leith Festival or the end of year shows for student and youth groups. The Brunton has the Morag Alexander School of Dance and the Festival Theatre is looking for some … Continue reading Preview of the week Mon 10 – Sun 16 June
Published: June 4th, 2013 New venues for EIF’s narrative-driven song-cycles
 Emma Morwood and Chris Elliott ready for a little bit of Love in a Bookshop. Photo credit Claudine Quinn By Thom Dibdin
The Lovin’ Spoonful would not doubt have approved. It’s hot town, Summer in the City but the Edinburgh International Festival aren’t getting dirt and gritty – just making it so the days can be like the night.
It’s “go out and find a girl” time for the return of the Love in a… series of guerilla operas which premiered last year with Love in a Library. There’s no need to wait for the night in order to experience a tuneful spoonful, either, as the performances take place during the day.
It’s all part of the EIF’s year-round education and engagement programme and is directed by Sally Hobson, EIF head of programme development. It will see Emma Morwood, the Northern Irish soprano based in Scotland, and lyric tenor Chris Elliott making eyes and declaring … Continue reading Guerilla Opera returns to Edinburgh
Published: May 28th, 2013 First production to stream “Live from Stratford-upon-Avon”
 By Thom Dibdin
The Royal Shakespeare Company’s forthcoming production of Richard II, staring David Tennant in the title role, is to be live streamed to Edinburgh’s Cameo cinema in November.
Richard II will be the first production in Live from Stratford-upon-Avon a new programme to screen RSC productions live from Shakespeare’s home town, run in collaboration with the Cameo’s owners Picturehouse Entertainment. The titles of two further RSC Shakespeare plays to be streamed live during the next year will be announced in September.
Gregory Doran, RSC Artistic Director, said: ‘We want to bring the work we make in Stratford-upon-Avon to the widest possible audience. Taking our productions live into cinemas and direct into schools is the next logical step. We will start with Richard II.”
Directed by Doran, the production opens in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in October. It will be filmed using multiple cameras around the stage and auditorium during the performance on 13 November 2013 and simultaneously screened into over 100 cinemas around the UK – and available in North America, Australia, Japan and Northern Europe. … Continue reading Tennant’s RSC Richard II to get Cameo screening
Published: May 27th, 2013 What’s on in Edinburgh’s Theatres over the week ahead.
 The Pirate King (Steven Page) and his shipmates in Scottish Opera’s Pirates of Penzance. Photo credit KK Dundas. Compiled by Thom Dibdin
There’s a busy but rather bitty week ahead for theatregoers in Edinburgh with plenty of new shows opening – or arriving in town – but few on for more than a day or three.
The big exceptions – and they certainly are big – are at the Playhouse and the Festival Theatres. At the Playhouse, this week is the last chance to see the impressive touring production of Ghost the Musical, while Festival Theatre welcomes Scottish Opera for its hotly anticipated four-night, five-show stand of The Pirates of Penzance, the national opera company’s thrilling new co-production with D’Oyly Carte.
The National Theatre of Scotland are in town, too, with the revival of Calum’s Road which tours to … Continue reading Preview of the week Mon 27 May – Sun 2 June
Published: May 24th, 2013 Longest serving Bond to appear at Festival Theatre
 Sir Roger Moore – publicity photograph By Thom Dibdin
Sir Roger Moore is to make his Edinburgh stage debut this Autumn when he appears at the Festival Theatre as part of a ten date speaking tour in conversation with writer Gareth Owen.
Moore became a household name in the 60s playing Simon Templar in The Saint and went on to star alongside Tony Curtis, in The Persuaders!. He joined the Bond franchise in 1973 at the age of 45 in Live and Let Die, taking over from Sean Connery. Over 12 years he starred in seven Bonds, finishing with A View to a Kill in 1985 when he was 58.
According to publicity for the event: “Roger will be discussing his astonishing life and career, with inside stories and exclusive anecdotes ranging from his internationally-renowned TV series The Saint and The Persuaders, through to Hollywood blockbusters and, of course, the 007 films.”
Moore will be interviewed by Gareth Owen, author of nine books who worked with Moore on his autobiography My Word Is My Bond and his 2012 book Bond On Bond. Gareth has … Continue reading Sir Roger Moore makes Edinburgh debut
Published: May 23rd, 2013 Original 500-word plays get August outing – & other Trav notes…
 The Traverse 50. Photo Credit Eoin Carie By Thom Dibdin
The Traverse has announced that it is to feature all the Traverse Fifty’s original 500-word plays – the Fifty Plays for Edinburgh – as part of the productions at this year’s Edinburgh festivals.
Originally produced as a marathon one-evening event, the 50 plays will return over two nights at the end of August – 25 plays each night. They will once again be directed by Traverse artistic director Orla O’Loughlin and associate director Hamish Pirie.
O’Loughlin told the Annals: “In the Traverse’s fiftieth year, we’re looking ahead to the next generation of playwriting talent. Putting our Traverse Fifty writers centre stage this festival was the perfect opportunity to celebrate our commitment to emerging writers, and showcase the compelling … Continue reading Taking the Traverse Fifty to the fringe
Published: May 20th, 2013 Details of latest Traverse scratch night
 By Thom Dibdin
The Traverse has announced details of its latest Words, Words, Words night of work-in-progress scratch theatre, with eight writers each teamed up with one of the theatre’s emerging directors.
The focus of the evening is on pieces which are not only brand new, but which are still forming, putting a strong emphasis on the development of work in progress.
Each writer and director gets 75 minutes to work on the script with their actors today. The scratch results will be performed this evening … Continue reading Line-up for Words, Words, Words announced
Published: May 19th, 2013 What’s on in Edinburgh’s Theatres over the week ahead.
 Victor Zarallo, Daniel Davidson and Nicholas Shoesmith in Scottish Ballet’s production of Matthew Bourne’s Highland Fling. Photograph by Andy Ross Compiled by Thom Dibdin
There is not quite as much on this week, after last week’s hectic schedule left many Edinburgh theatre-lovers wondering which way to turn. But there is still something for most tastes, from Beckett to Buchan by way of Liz Lochhead.
Getting the big ticket events out the way first, the spiffing four actor version of the 39 Steps returns to the King’s where it was last seen in 2008. At the Playhouse, Ghost the Musical continues to tug at the tear ducts.
Monday night is scratch theatre night at the Traverse, with Words Words Words. Opening on Thursday, the fabulous Jenna Watt returns with her Fringe First winning Flaneurs and the Gare St Lizare Players production of Beckett’s First Love, the latter ahead of the Gate Dublin Theatre’s production at the EIF.
The big amateur production of the week is … Continue reading Preview of the week Mon 20 – Sun 26 May
Published: May 13th, 2013 What’s on in Edinburgh’s Theatres over the week ahead.
 Angela Clerkin stars in stylish noir thriller The Bear, a murder mystery with a solicitor’s clerk and a mythic bear, at the Traverse. Photo credit Sheila Burnett Compiled by Thom Dibdin
There’s a busy week ahead in Edinburgh’s theatres, after the end of the lovely Imaginate at the Traverse, with almost a dozen shows playing across as many venues.
The big shows are at the King’s, with the Pitmen Painters, and the Playhouse, where Ghost the Musical comes in for a three week ride. The NTS is at the Bedlam with a second Chinese Play Pie and a Pint: Thieves and Boy; the wonderful Improbable tour to the Traverse with The Bear; and Summerhall welcomes Be Silent or Be Killed, reviewed last week at the Brunton.
There’s opera at the Queen’s Hall where Mr McFall’s Chamber give a concert performance of María de Buenos Aires, and dance at the Festival Theatre with Sutra.
On the amateur front, Leitheatre are up at the Church Hill with Deathtrap and St Serfs have The Steamie at St Serf’s Halls. Encore, the Musselburgh musicals company, are cracking the whip with Calamity Jane at the Brunton. And on the shoestring front, recently formed Moving Lights are performing Steel Magnolias at Augustine United Church on George IV Bridge.
Listings: … Continue reading Preview of the week Mon 13 – Sun 19 May
Published: May 10th, 2013 Records look set to broken for most plays performed in an evening
 Some 170 play-in-a-tweets formatted, printed and laid out ready for performance. Photo © Village Pub Theatre Village Pub Theatre
Friday 10 May 2013
By Thom Dibdin
Theatrical records look set to be broken down at the Village Pub Theatre’s twitter-themed show at the Village on South Fort Street tonight, Friday, with the performance of over 100 plays in one evening.
Having set its followers the challenge of writing a play in a tweet, with the hashtag #vpt, over 170 individual plays have been submitted. These include new works, if they are long enough to call them that, by the likes of David Greig and Linda McLean as well as works by unknown writers who simply like a challenge.
Playwright Sophie Good of the Village Pub Theatre told the Annals: “I don’t think we will get all 170 performed tonight – we’ll just get through as many as we can in the time – and will try and include some that come in today. Or even tonight during the performance, if possible, which will be read off an iPad.”
No matter how many plays are performed, it is likely that it will far exceed … Continue reading All a twitter at Village Pub Theatre
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