‘THE ARCHES HAS BECOME THE BEATING HEART OF SCOTLAND'S
EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE'
Te ute lovers
Highwayotner
Steve Cramer finds the ACHES LIVE! festival as full as ever of theatrical
adventure and experiment.
hen the Arches was poshed up by its major
refurbishment four years ago. one
wondered whether the sparkly new look. all glass and glossy furnishing. tnight betoken a more mainstream approach to the work. It was a bit of a worry at the time. but far from becoming theatre for advocates and their wives. artistic director Andy Arnold‘s outfit found new spaces in which to experiment. pushing the boat out so far that it nearly grounded on the opposite bank. Over the past few
years. the building has become the beating heart of
Scotland‘s experimental theatre. challenging aesthetic and political principals with the zeal of the neophite. With experiment there may be triumphs. but there are
also failures. and it is Andy Arnold’s championing of
the right to fail that sets this building apart from others in Scotland. And this protection of artistic experiment has lead to many triumphs.
()ne of the most notable of these is Highway Diner. 1 was treated to their beautiful. delicately nuanced
and passionate site specific piece. Works of
Temporurv Solace. at the end of the Fringe. The sight of these bright young performers improvising through the traffic of George Street and among the backlanes
around the Assembly Rooms to tell a succession of
stories about love and the tender sense of grief and loss that so often attends it was an inspiring experience. And they‘re back. ignoring. with all the energy of youth. the strains of the Festival to lead tip the Arches Live! season. where they‘ll join a scrimmage of other young artists in what promises to be another jamboree of dissent from the restrictive rules of mainstream theatre.
Their new show incorporates live music and theatre.
combining with experimental electronic band Swimmer
()ne. already an acclaimed and highly visual presence on the music scene. to provide a form of live video.
Both of these groups are notable for their ongoing desire to subvert our conventional expectations of art. so this meeting of minds promises a night of both challenge and enthralling entertainment.
A similar experiment with live music and theatre might be found in the same building in the shape of] Love You Numb. which features the bright young lidinburgh company (‘at in a Cup. who have received much acclaim for their children's theatre. There‘s a touch of Six Degrees ofSe/mrurlon to this piece. involving two women who meet by chance. only to find they have much in common through their personal histories. A devised work featuring avante
garde band 7VWWVW. with the participation of
community groups. this. too looks like a cleverly transgressive piece of entertainment.
The one thing. in fact. that brings together all of the dozen-odd acts at this year‘s sprawling festival is the determined desire to reject the boundaries of naturalism. showing that theatre can do. uniquely. many things that such media as film. telly and even tnore conventional repertory theatre can‘t. So in the theatre‘s cloak room you'll encounter Mad ('on'. in which a monologue is delivered by a sexy cow affected by the bovine ailment of the title. A lot of this explores issues of gender. as does .S'omelhing lVf('k(’(/. which places three sisters at their mother’s funeral. and explores female rivalry. The tnale end of things is not neglected either. for in the shape of il/luni/esro. we see issues of men‘s identity in the modern world explored. I'm only scratching the surface with this little run down. so get along for your night of experimentation. where you'll find something to subvert all tastes
Arches Live!, at the Arches, Glasgow, Fri 16-Sat 24 Sep. See listings for details.
Theatre
Hit >l<
THE BEST THEATRE 8: DANCE
John Binnie, a former section editor at The List, wrote this Fringe diamond, which now tours around Scotland. Complete with a live trapeze act, the piece explores the relationship of two working- class Glasgow women, filtered through the life and times of Audrey Hepburn. Toun‘ng.
# Arches Live! A feast of new work and theatrical experimentation featuring many of Britain’s youngest and most vital practitioners. The underground space of the Arches promises to come alive for this jamboree of thoughtful entertainment. The Arches, Glasgow, Fri 76—Sat 24 Sep.
3|: As You Like it Find your way back to the magical Forest of Arden for Shakespeare’s tale of love and sexual politics. The Lyceum’s Mark Thomson, who certainly knows his Shakespeare, puts Orlando and Rosalind through their paces. Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, Fri 16 Sap—Sat 15 Oct.
* Alvin Ailey Eclectic and accessible dance from this leading international practitioner. Revelations, his famous Gospel- inspired piece, is included in the bill, as well as a new work by Judith Jamison. King's Theatre, Glasgow, Tue 20 & Wed 21
Sep. Then touring.
* Accidental Death of an Anarchist Nobel prize-winning author Dario Fo’s most famous and successful piece, this black farce with political overtones portrays a notorious act of police brutality as satire. The experienced Borderline company should add spice to this tour. Touring.
8- 22 Set) 2005 THE LIST 81