Theatre
Kilt in action
TRADI l‘lONAl- CON TEMPORARY DANCE OFF KILTER Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Fri 2 Apr
Any show that opens with a dance about losing your trousers has to be doing something right. The Seann Triubhas, a Highland dance dating back to the mid 18th century, reflected the much hated ban on kilt wearing, introduced after the Jacobite rebellion. Dancers would shake their legs to a slow tempo, in a defiant attempt to rid themselves of their dreaded trews. Scottish history is riddled with such injustice, but while she can’t change
HUSH PRODUCTIONS:
that, Morag Deyes is intent on addressing some modern day wrongs.
The artistic director of Dance Base has assembled a stellar line-up of music and dance, featuring some of Scotland’s unsung talents. Off Kilfer, the first in-house production to come out of Dance Base, takes a wry look at Scottish culture - then and now. In the traditional corner we have Sean Triubhas and a step dance solo, while representing the 21st century are choreographers Raymond Kaye, Steinvor Palsson, Janet Smith, Frank
McConnell and Priya Sreekumar.
Smith, of course, has more than proved herself at the helm of Scottish Dance Theatre. But for a variety of reasons, this is the first new work she’s created for two years, and as Deyes says: ‘lt’s a thrill to see her magic’s still there.’ McConnell’s Innit Innat, performed by hip hop outfit, Freshmess, was one of the highlights of last year’s Edinburgh Fringe, while Sreekumar blends Indian dance with a traditional jig to reflect the multicultural
strengths of modern-day Scotland.
With music by Martyn Bennett, Sheena Wellington, Celtic Beet and piper, Simon McKerrell, plus imagery from Arts in Motion, it’s a busy show. ‘I
didn’t want it to look like a lucky bag,’ admits Deyes. ‘But it’s come together
quite beautifully. And shows that just because we move on, it doesn’t mean to say we don’t appreciate what’s gone before.’ (Kelly Apter)
MUSICAl
FOOTLOOSE
Playhouse, Edinburgh, Mon 5—Sat 10 Apr.
‘l-le's a big—city kid in a small town. They said he'd never win. He knew he had to.‘ The tagline for Herbert l’toss's 1984 movie hit Foot/oose. along with the film itself. should have been consigned to some dance flick waste dump. the rightful place for many of the 80s silver screen musicals. Thankfully. it wasn't. As well as catapulting i s star. Kevin Bacon. to stardom, Ross' film showed that seemingly high-cheese concepts have a place in movie history. Twenty years on, producer Mark Gouchm is preparing to put his mark on the latest big stage adaptation.
A musical novice Goucher is not. with hits like RENT and Fame to his name. Musicals are about escapism. giving the audience pleasure'he says. ‘If we can add a great story into the mix, that's great.‘
And a great story it is. A kid n from the big smoke of Chicago ends up in a small town where dancing is illegal. He
Loose teenagers
pleads with the town council for the high school kids' right to throw a school dance and. well. cut loose.
like the iiiovie. the plot of footloose is secondary to the music and the dancing. ()IIVIOl AVJHTU‘VJlllllIlig] choreograi)her Karen Bruce has been putting the young cast through their paces. ‘Karen's a huge rising star.‘ says Goucher. 'There's sometimes this problem in finding actors who can sing, dance and act. But we've got a really terrific cast who are genuinely Iovuig doing the show. It's going to be great.‘ iAnna Millari
V Switish Scottish 9"- Arts Louiicil
DEATH AND THE CITY
3 NEW MONLOGUES BY ACCLAIMED ITALIAN PLAYWRIGHT RENATO GABRIELLI.
DEATH, FANTASY AND EROTICISM IN THE CITY VISCERAL, PHYSICAL AND DARKLY HUMOROUS THEATRE FEATURING STUNNING MULTI-MEDIA. "...PDSITIVELY SCREAMS ORIGINALITY...” THE SCOTSMAN
POST SHOW TALK FRIDAY 16TH APRIL (TRON)
3 DAY ACTORS WORKSHOP WITH RENATO GABRIELLI 16-18 APRIL (RSAMD) PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION 12-18 APRIL (TRON)
THU APR 15—SAT APR 17@7.3UPM
l-li: :A~
PLUS ROXY ARTS HOUSE, . EDINBURGH 22-24 APRIL (0870 220 1116)
TARA ARTS: MANDRAGORA: KING OF INDIA
BY NIRJAY MAHINDRU
THU 22 APR—SAT 24 APR@8PM THU EB/ES, FRI E5, SAT E12/E6.
NIRJAY MAHINDRU’S WITTY FIRST PLAY TAKES ITS AUDIENCE ON A THRILLING FLIGHT OF FANTASY TO INDIA.
BOX OFFICE 0141 552 4257
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Arts (ountil
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t--l:'> Apr 200-1 THE LIST 63