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Underbelly set to rival fringe Big Three with Springer follow-up. Words: Allan Radcliffe
t's approaching that time of year. when the capital's
permanent residents roll over to make way for a tidal
wave of excitable incomers. all keeping their eyes peeled and noses to the ground for the hottest shows in town. The most significant story of this year's Fringe may well turn out to he the rapid expansion of one of the newest venues. Will 2006 he the year the Underbelly nosed ahead of its more firmly entrenched rivals. the Assembly Rooms. (iilded Balloon and Pleasance'.’ The Underbelly is expanding physically. with a major new space. the 322-seat UdderBelly. pitching its tent in Bristo Square in the shape of an upside-down purple cow. while the familiar old Reid Hall is reincarnated as the 23()-seat Cow Barn right next door. So. are the tectonic plates shifting? Only if the Underbelly can fill its generous spaces with a great programme. liarly signs for the “belly look good. The highlight is a new stage incarnation of Eric Bogosian's Talk Radio. directed by Jerry Springer: The ()pcra's Stewart Lee. with comedy turns. Phil Nichol and Mike McShane among the cast. Other theatrical curios include a one-man Star Wars Trilogy and new comedy drama.
Break/21st with Johnny ll'i'lki'llsmi. Among liringe offerings elsewhere. there's a striking
juxtaposition of six/ling young talent with. shall we say.
more seasoned showbiz professionals. In comedy. the upstart likes of Andrew Maxwell. Reginald l) Hunter and Demetri Martin will be scoring tips from veterans. The Krankies. The (ioodies and Bernie (‘lifton (accompanied. presumably. by his ()strichl. For music aficionados. bright young things Belle and Sebastian and The Dandy Warhols will be trying their damnedcst not to have their thunder stolen by that granddaddy of glam rock. Alvin Stardust.
The theatre selection is rather more sobering. highlights including a transfer from the Battersea Arts (‘entre of The Sperm i‘vlmiolugiws with an. as yet unannounced. celebrity cast. a dance show courtesy of Michael l’latley‘s understudy. Tapeire. and extravagan/as ()mke Use and Jump. from Zimbabwe and Korea respectively.
So. if you like your cutting edge performance. drizzled with good. old fashioned variety and topped off with just a dash of high camp. get ready for a hot August in Edinburgh.
A SHOT IN THE ART FOR KELVINGROVE
I Lovers of Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery have contributed around £12.75 million towards its renovation, exceeding the appeal’s expectations by more than £7 million. This unexpected bonanza means the fundraisers have been able to spend more than £32 million on the gallery’s refurbishment, well over the original target. Contributors included Tom Hunter, who bequeathed £5 million for the creation of an education wing, to be named after the businessman’s father. The site is to reopen on July 11. In another positive development for the West Coast art world, internationally renowned Glasgow artist and Glasgow School of Art graduate John Lowrie Morrison has announced the inauguration of a major award for emerging artists. The Jolomo Lloyds TSB Scotland Awards will offer a total of £30,000 to new and young creators of fine art. (AR)
I Scottish filmmaker Andrea Arnold’s debut feature, set against the backdrop of a collection of Glasgow tower blocks has won a special jury prize at this year's Cannes festival. Red Road is the story of a CCTV operator who is forced to confront demons from her past when she spots a familiar face on her monitor.
I Followuig last week ‘8 List article on the dubious arrest and threatened deportation of Chilean-born Scots arts promoter Ernesto Leal, a benefit gig has been announced to take place at the Liquid Rooms at the end of June. So far, The Fire Engines. Buckleys Chance and The Elephants have all been confirmed. Visit wwwfriendsot ernestoorguk for more details.
I Thundering Hooves, the independent report commissioned by the Scottish Arts Council into the future of Edinburgh's festivals, has confirmed the city’s status as the ‘jewel’ of festival destinations. The report recommends that the Scottish Executive grants more money to the city council to increase its cultural spend from 2.8% to 4%, while preparing a strategy aimed at warding off competition from rival European festivals.
I This year's Robert Burns Humanitarian Award has been presented posthumously to Maria Ru2icka. the f0under of CIVIC (Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict). at the end of the Burns An A' That festival in Ayr. The 28-year-old ‘one-person aid agency‘ was killed by a car bomb in Baghdad in April 2005.
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