Roman Signer
Exploding the myth that his countrymen are purveyors of Just cuckoo clocks, muesli and chocolate is Swiss artist Roman Signer. In his work, which is more anarchic than alpine, Signer uses explosives, catapults and air pumps to create ’happening sculptures’ made from mundane objects — he once catapulted a kitchen table through a hotel window across the alpine landscape. Created over the past twenty years, Signer’s work IS recorded on video and in photographs, and includes exploding water-filled wellies and dozens of wooden crates crashing down a flight of stone steps. They’re compelling images, touched with humour and terrorism. Signer is perhaps a cross between Heath Robinson, Dada supremo Duchamp and a fun- Ioving schoolboy. (Susanna Beaumont)
Roman Signer is at CCA, Glasgow, Sat 3 May—Tue 3 Jun.
2THELISTZ~IS May I997
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Armando Ianucci
Glasgow-born Armando Ianucci is the performer/writer/ director/producer behind some of the best comedy of the 90s. His "TV credits include Friday Night Armistice, The Day Today and Knowing Me, Knowrng You With Alan Partridge. His first book, Facts And Fancies, was published in March and he's currently working on a new Alan Partridge series as well as developing some film proiects. ’A lot of the stuff I’ve done is in collaboration wrth other people,’ he modestly stresses. Sometimes it doesn't feel like writing, if you're sitting in a room bouncing ideas off people ’ This rrionth, take advantage of some rare live appearances by the shy funnyman. ’I felt giiilty about asking people to pay to see some bloke read from his book .. I'll be dorng some new stuff too, and havmg chats With the audience.’ And the humour itself? ‘Erm, I'm very interested in tiny odd things. It's not observatzonal I don’t know what it is" Whatever it :s, don't miss it (Scott Montgomeryi Armando lariLrCCI rs at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Sat 70 May, and The Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Sun 7 I May.
Balor
Galway-based performance copipany It'lacnas have been to Glasgow tWice before, first in 1992 wrth Tarn, the first part of a rilogy based on anCient Irish legend. then as part of the travelling circus which accompanied U2 on their Zooropa tour in 1993. Now they’re back wrth Balor, the third part of their Celtic trilogy Ithe second, Sweeny has yet to be seen in Scotland) Internationally renowned yet community-based, Macnas began in I986, creating local spectacles and parades, before developing the high-profile Tarn in the early 90s. Balor, their biggest show to date, is spectacular, funny and scary, driven by a powerful music score. Based on a legend of Donegal’s Tory Island, it centres on Balor, a fearsome cyCIops pirate, and his efforts to defy the prophesy that he’ll be slain by his grandson Lu. It promises to be exciting and colourful, described by one Belfast critic as 'something akin to watching a baroque, broody ballet on magic mushrooms’
Balor is at the King’s Theatre, Glasgow, Tue 6—Sat 70 May.