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PREVIEW CONTEMPORARY DANCE RICHARD ALSTON DANCE COMPANY Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Tue 22 Apr
Live music is on the wish list of most choreographers. but finding the pennies to pay for it isn't always easy. For the past three years. Martin Lawrance has been creating new work for the Richard Alston Dance Company (the only choreographer other than Alston to do so). but always to pre-recorded music. So when Alston found room in his budget for Lawrance to bring in musicnans. the young choreographer jumped at the chance.
Body 8 Soul is Lawrance's most ambitious work to date. lasting almost 30 minutes and featuring a pianist and baritone performing Schumann's song cycle. Dichter/iebe. He's also placed more emphasis on costume and lighting. “It's more theatrical than anything I've done before.’ says Lawrance. ‘lt’s set to these beautiful. sad love poems about losing somebody. and although I don't dramatise the lyrics. I've kept the feeling of the music.‘
Lawrance's piece is sandwiched inbetween two dramatically different works by Alston. Fingerprint is set to the music of Bach. while Shuffle it Right is a lively. toe-tapping new piece danced to the jazz music of Hoagy Carmichael. ‘I think as a programme it really works.‘ says Lawrance. “Because Fingerprint is very classical. my piece is from the Romantic era and Shuffle it Right is a fun jazz number — so each piece is really different.‘ (Kelly Apter)
NEW Tidal? CAN we LIVE WITH YOU?
Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, until Sat 5 Apr eeee
It is all too easy for people without a connection to disability to forget that those with them also have strong personalities. Opinions. and a right to be heard. Although Lung Ha’s tend to avoid overtly political statements. the question in the title of their latest production is particularly pertinent to a world that is stubbornly ignorant of difference.
Scotland's foremost company involving people with learning disabilities has spent many months devising this tale of greed and rejection. Trying to escape the henchmen of the rich and powerful Mr Big Fish (David Brown). Jock McScott (John Edgar) leads his eager family to the Land of Delightful Things. What they find there however. is far from pleasant.
With Drake Music Scotland supplying a jazzy soundtrack throughout. this production feels like a non-stop party. as the enjoyment of the performers bounces infectiously around the audience. Dancing. singing. countless glittering cowboy hats and a reflective floor all add to the disco feel. and although in some parts the set proved quite restricting to performers using wheelchairs. the relentless enthusiasm of all demonstrates that you don't need to stop having fun. to send a serious message. It is surprising how seldom we notice that people with disability are rarely a valued part of an audience. but Lung Ha's welcome all. and. providing fantastic entertainment through the humour and personality of their 40-strong cast. they are impossible to forget. (Sarah Redhead)
Events are listed by city, then alphabetically by venue. Submit listian at least 14 days before publication to theatreOlist.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Kirstin Innes.
=1: Indicates Listpicks entry
I THE ARCHES 253 Argyle Street. 565 1000. IH. WC.
WAI
Arches Award for Stage Directors: Sixteen L'ntil Sat 12 Apr. 7.20pm. £10 (£7). At 16 sex is legal. and Sara Marshall. 15 years. 364 days. 23 hours and 15 minutes old. intends to
take full advantage of this. Sinister piece
of new writing directed by award-winner
Rob Drummond. Part of the Arches
Theatre Festival 2008.
Arches Award for Stage
Directors: The Severed Head of
Comrade Bukhari Until Sat 12 Apr. 8.40pm. £10 (£7). Comrade Bukhari must die. His crinte is so dire that he cannot escape what fate has in store for
him. Directed by award-winner
Dajinder Singh. Part of the Arches Theatre Festival 2008.
An Oak Tree Thu Ill—Sat 12 Apr.
10pm. £10 (£7). Hugely acclaimed play
front Tim Crouch abottt a father dealing
with the death of his child in a car crash. The twist of the play is that only one of the two actors on stage knows what's happening - the other performer (a different person every night) won't have a clue what‘s going on until it happens to them. Part of the Arches Theatre Festival 2008.
David Leddy: Pater Noster Thu 10—Sat 19 Apr (not Sun/Mon). 6—10.15pm. £3 (£2). lmagine taking an elevator to the heavens with David
Theatre
Lynch whispering in one ear and Bob Dylan in the other. David Leddy's newest work is an intense. ten-minute sonic experience in total darkness. for one audience member at a time. Every 15 minutes from bpm. booking very necessary. Part of the Arches Theatre Festival 2008.
Teatr Novogo Fronts - Dias De Las Noches Thu 108; Fri 1 1 Apr. 7.10pm. £10 (£7). Dark. charming and crarily brilliant piece from the Russian physical theatre company. Part of the Arches Theatre Festival 2008.
New Art Club: This is Modern Sat 12 Apr. 7.10pm. £7 (£5). The sai disant 'Reeves and Mortimer of choreography" offer up a comic guide to the last 100 years of contemporary dance. 1n leotards'. Part of the Arches Theatre Festival 2008.
Bluey Tue 15 & Wed 16 Apr. 10pm. £7 (£5). An autobiographical performance written and performed by Phil Spencer incorporating live music. stand-up comedy and a healthy dose of audience interaction. Part of the Arches Theatre Festival 2008.
Muddclubsolo Tue 15 8: Wed 16 Apr. 7.30pm. £7 (£5). Performance piece set
half in the legendary New York nightspot
The Mudtl Club. and half in some actual mud — actual mud! wow? — by feminist performance artist Maren Strack. Part of the Arches Theatre Festival 2008. Popsicle’s Departure, 1989
0”. Tue 15 & Wed 16 Apr. 7.10pm. £10 (£7). 198‘). Seattle's mighty Sub-
Pop label dominates the grunge scene. Dido can't get hold of her dealer. and
Jeremy's band have totally got a gig
supporting The Lemonheads. Compelling one—woman show. as much a
love poem to past youth as to a period in contemporary American history. which was a sleeper hit on the 2007 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. I’ rt of the Arches Theatre Festival 2008.
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10—24 Apr 2008 THE LIST 89