Theatre
I Whispers writes from a darkened room, with a warm damp towel on his head and his feet in a bucket of hot soothing water after the rigours of the festival, but has enough life left in him to lean toward his keyboard and type his regular missive to you, dear reader, with his one good hand. And what occurs to him is the power of good Scottish theatre has done itself this festival. The NTS has excelled itself with its two productions on what becomes a truly international stage in Edinburgh each August. Black Watch and Realism will provide benefits far beyond the NTS itself in heightening the profile of Scottish theatre, and one hopes that the whole community will benefit.
I Meanwhile. it was good to see the Traverse have such a strong festival. Recent years have seen the murmurings about the Traverse's conservative programming, particularly of its own shows. begin to rise to an audible cry. and one hopes that their superb visiting season during the festival will turn down the volume of criticism for the sake of Scotland's only purpose built New writing Theatre. Certainly. later on in the Autumn, an Arches — style season of smaller scale experimental theatre looks promising for the building, which Whispers wishes well, as ever.
I Meanwhile, over at the Tron, Whispers hears glad tidings on the grapevine from another building that has endured some tough times of late. Gregory Thompson, whose production of The Pull of Negative Gravity a couple of years back at the Fringe alerted many to a young talent on the up, has, Whispers hears, been appointed to the post of director at the Tron. With such productions as Molly Sweeney and Romeo and Juliet behind him at the Citz in the last year, there’s no doubting Thompson’s ability. The challenge of running a building might present the young man with a mountain to climb much greater than that of an individual production, but Whispers wishes him, and the Tron well in this new departure.
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HENRY V 8- PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD Brunton Theatre. Musselburgh. tue 12—Wed 13 Sep. then touring.
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NTS ENSEMBLE SEASON North Edinburgh Arts Centre, Thu 7-Sat 9 Sep, then touring
w :7 5)." ~ ". Ensemble work was. for some time, completely unseen on Scottish stages. w r 1' " .. t' -' w: ' ~ ~4 which is a shame, because the particular confidence it can bring actors in
.: : :‘r : ‘ v r 1' ‘ approaching different pieces with the same colleagues often sees an all
round improvement in performances. This was evident a few years back in Hamish Glen’s creation of an ensemble at Dundee Rep. The NTS has followed this lead with its own ensemble. on this occasion consisting of seven actors performing three plays throughout Scotland.
Among these is Zinnie Harris' Julie, 3 new version of Strindberg's Miss Julie, and a fascinating prospect. Strindberg‘s intense psychological tragedy, fraught as it is with imagery of sexuality and dream was a piece far in advance of its time, engaging as it did with new notions of the collapse of hierarchy inspired by Nietzsche as well as psychoanalytic imagery that would not become common for another half century. But it is more than a museum peice; there is an essential dramatic tension to the story of the instigation of an affair with a butler by a posh heiress that is bound to intrigue in Harris‘ hands. Her adaptation, given her credentials as an author with Further than the Furthest Thing promises a good night out. She will also direct.
The programme also includes 8 childrens' piece by David Greig and Wils Wilson titled Gobbo and a revival of Douglas Maxwell‘s delightful but alarming coming of age play, Mancub. But I suppose the stars of any piece on an ensemble are the actors themselves. Among these are some very exciting names. Cath Whitefield delivered possibly the performance of 2006 for this critic with her witch/mother figure in Home East Lothian. Andy Clark has, after an earlier career in the Dundee Rep ensemble established himself as an actor to watch in Scottish theatre, while Samantha Young. also a former Dundee Rep performer is surely one of the brightest talents on the current scene. For the performers alone this tour seems to hold an abundance of promise. (Steve Cramer)
\‘t \.'. '.'.\ H". MY DARK SKY Tramway. Glasgow, Sat 16—Sat 30 Sep, then touring